KUALA LUMPUR: Jeneral Datuk Malek Razak Sulaiman has been officially appointed as the 24th Armed Forces chief.
The appointment was officiated by Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin at Wisma Pertahanan on Tuesday (Feb 3).
Earlier, Mohamed Khaled also officiated the rank conferment ceremony for Malek Razak, from Leftenan-Jeneral to Jeneral.
Meanwhile, the Armed Forces' Intelligence and Defence Strategic Communication division said Malek Razak's appointment comes at a pivotal moment for the military, which is navigating heightened expectations to strengthen public confidence and uphold institutional credibility amid an increasingly complex security landscape.
"The role of the Armed Forces Chief now extends beyond operational command, requiring strong moral authority and a firm commitment to professional military values.
"In the current environment, senior leadership is expected to serve not only as strategic commanders but also as custodians of integrity, discipline and organisational principles," it said in a statement.
The appointment is also seen as particularly significant as the Armed Forces undergo a period of institutional review and renewal, with emphasis on improving governance accountability and leadership integrity.
"The new chief is entrusted with setting a clear strategic direction anchored in transparency, discipline and adherence to the core values of military service.
"His leadership is expected to unite personnel across all ranks through example, firm action against misconduct and strong support for institutional checks and balances, which are regarded as essential to restoring internal resilience.
"The leadership transition is an opportunity for a comprehensive institutional reset encompassing work culture, management systems and leadership practices, aimed at rebuilding trust both within the organisation and among the public, while reinforcing the Armed Forces’ readiness as a professional, respected and principled defence institution," it said.
On Saturday (Jan 31), Mohamed Khaled announced that Malek Razak had been appointed as the new military head.
He had said His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia, had consented to the promotion of Malek Razak to the rank of Jeneral and his appointment as the Armed Forces chief.
"The appointment was made in line with the recommendation of the 633rd (Special) Armed Forces Council meeting held on Jan 29 and subsequently received the consent of Sultan Ibrahim on Jan 30.
"The new Armed Forces Chief holds a Diploma in Strategic and Security Studies from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), a Master of Arts in Defence Studies from King’s College London, and a Master of Social Science (Defence Studies) from UKM.
"He began his military career in 1985 as an Overseas Cadet Officer at the Royal Military College, Sandhurst, in the United Kingdom, and was commissioned as a Second Leftenan on Dec 11, 1987," he said.
Over nearly four decades of service, he has demonstrated strong capability, excellence and leadership, Mohamed Khaled said.
"He began his career as a platoon commander with the 21st Battalion of the Royal Malay Regiment before serving in various units and holding numerous command and staff appointments.
"His last post prior to the appointment was Western Field Commander of the Army," he added.
Based on his extensive experience and proven credibility, Mohamed Khaled said he was confident that the appointment will further strengthen the leadership and capabilities of the military in facing national defence challenges, while restoring and reinforcing the force’s standing through leadership grounded in integrity and professionalism, and maintaining public confidence in the country’s defence institutions.
