Abdul Aziz bin Zainal (born 26 August 1951) is a Malaysian diplomat who formerly took office as the 16th Chief of Defence Forces from 2007 to 2009, 12th Chief of Army from 2004 to 2007, and Ambassador of Malaysia to France from 2010 to 2013. Notably, he served as Bank Kerjasama Rakyat Malaysia's previous chairman,[1] chairman of Heitech Defence System and Perbadanan Perwira Niaga.[2]
Abdul Aziz Zainal | |
|---|---|
 General Abdul Aziz in 2007 | |
| 15th Ambassador of Malaysia to France | |
| In office 29 May 2010 – 1 July 2013 | |
| Monarchs | Mizan Zainal Abidin Abdul Halim |
| Prime Minister | Najib Razak |
| Preceded by | S. Thanarajasingam |
| Succeeded by | Ismail Omar |
| 16th Chief of Defence Forces | |
| In office 1 February 2007 – 31 August 2009 | |
| Monarch | Mizan Zainal Abidin |
| Prime Minister | Abdullah Ahmad Badawi Najib Razak |
| Preceded by | Anwar Mohd Nor |
| Succeeded by | Azizan Ariffin |
| 12th Chief of Army | |
| In office 9 September 2004 – 31 January 2007 | |
| Monarchs | Sirajuddin Mizan Zainal Abidin |
| Prime Minister | Abdullah Ahmad Badawi |
| Preceded by | Azumi Mohamed |
| Succeeded by | Ismail Jamaluddin |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Abdul Aziz 26 August 1951 Kuala Pilah, Negeri Sembilan, Federation of Malaya (now Malaysia) |
| Spouse | Rositah Md. Mawi |
| Children | 4 |
| Alma mater |
|
| Occupation | Diplomat |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  Malaysia |
| Branch/service |  Malaysian Army |
| Years of service | 1969–2009 |
| Rank |  General |
| Commands |
|
Biography
editEducation
editAziz has an honorary doctorate in leadership and management from the University of Tun Abdul Razak in 2007; honorary doctorate in management from the Malaysian University of Sabah in 2008; and a master's degree in management from the Asian Institute of Management, Manila in 1996.[3][1] Furthermore, he participated in courses and seminars abroad, including the Peace Support Operations training in Victoria, British Columbia, the Battle Shooting Management course in the United Kingdom, and the Pacific Armies Management seminars in Sydney, Tokyo, and Calgary.[4] Later in his career, he would go on to attend the Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF) Staff College and MAF Defence College.[1]
Military career
editAfter attending the Royal Military College in Sungai Besi, Aziz enlisted in the Royal Malay Regiment (RMR) in 1971. As he advanced through the ranks of the military, he began his brief tenure as a platoon commander in the 3rd Battalion.[1] He had held numerous important staff and command positions in different Malaysian Armed Forces headquarters, departments, and training facilities in addition to serving in multiple roles in RMR battalions. As Chief of Defence Forces, he brought about a new management philosophy that transformed the organisation and led to the introduction of the balanced scorecard, key performance indicators, and the "Fourth Dimension MAF," as well as full integration and improved interoperability between the Army, Navy, and Armed Forces.[4]
Along with serving as the Malaysian contingent commander in Bosnia and Herzegovina from 1996 to 1997 as a member of NATO forces, Aziz held the position of assistant defense attaché in the Philippines from 1981 to 1983. He assumed ultimate command of the Malaysian Army upon his promotion to general on 9 September 2004,[1] and would hold that position until 2007, and later the Chief of Defence Forces from February 2007 to September 2009.[4]
Later life
editOn 29 May 2010, Abdul Aziz was welcomed as Malaysia's ambassador to France.[4] He became the first former Chief of Defence Forces to be named ambassador, becomes one of a select few non-career diplomats to hold this position of responsibility.[3] In 2016, he was arrested and questioned on a RM15 million cas, making him the second high-ranking bank employee to be brought before the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).[5]
Personal life
editAziz was born in Kuala Pilah, Negeri Sembilan on 26 August 1951.[3] He is married to Puan Sri Dato' Rositah binti Haji Md. Mawi and together had two sons and daughters.[4]
Honours
editAziz holds accreditations in Portugal and Monaco, in addition to earning the following honours;[6][7]
National
edit- Malaysia :
Member of the Order of the Defender of the Realm (AMN) (1978)[8]- Companion of the Order of the Defender of the Realm (JMN) (2002)[9]
Commander of the Order of Loyalty to the Crown of Malaysia (PSM) – Tan Sri (2006)[10]
Commander of the Order of the Defender of the Realm (PMN) – Tan Sri (2007)[11]
Malaysian Armed Forces :
Officer of the Most Gallant Order of Military Service (KAT)
Warrior of the Most Gallant Order of Military Service (PAT)
Loyal Commander of the Most Gallant Order of Military Service (PSAT)
Courageous Commander of the Most Gallant Order of Military Service (PGAT)
Pahang :
Knight Companion of the Order of the Crown of Pahang (DIMP) – Dato' (1998)[12]
Knight Companion of the Order of Sultan Ahmad Shah of Pahang (DSAP) – Dato' (2002)[12]
Grand Knight of the Order of the Crown of Pahang (SIMP) – formerly Dato', now Dato' Indera (2003)[12]
Grand Knight of the Order of Sultan Ahmad Shah of Pahang (SSAP) – Dato' Sri (2004)[12]
Kedah :
Knight Commander of the Glorious Order of the Crown of Kedah (DGMK) – Dato' Wira (2005)[13]
Knight Commander of the Order of Loyalty to Sultan Abdul Halim Mu'adzam Shah (DHMS) – Dato' Paduka (2006)[13]
Knight Grand Companion of the Order of Loyalty to the Royal House of Kedah (SSDK) – Dato' Seri (2008)[13]
Kelantan :
Knight Grand Commander of the Order of the Noble Crown of Kelantan (SPKK) – Dato' (2005)
Negeri Sembilan :
Knight Grand Commander of the Order of Tuanku Jaafar (SPTJ) – Dato' Seri (2005)
Perak :
Knight Grand Commander of the Order of Taming Sari (SPTS) – Dato' Seri Panglima (2005)
Perlis :
Knight Grand Commander of the Order of the Crown of Perlis (SPMP) – Dato' Seri (2007)
Foreign
edit
Philippines:
Singapore :
Thailand:
Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Crown of Thailand (PM)
Brunei:
Order of Paduka Keberanian Laila Terbilang First Class (DPKT) – Dato Paduka Seri
Indonesia:
Bintang Yudha Dharma Utama (BYD)[15]
Italy:
France:
Officer of the Legion of Honour (OLH)
References
edit- ^ a b c d e "GEN (R) TAN SRI ABDUL AZIZ BIN ZAINAL @ [GLOMAC]: GLOMAC BHD | Corporate Figure or Shareholder". klse.i3investor.com. Retrieved 7 November 2023.
- ^ "[STRAITS] Chairman & Director APPOINTMENT - JENERAL TAN SRI ABDUL AZIZ BIN ZAINAL on 10-Oct-2013". klse.i3investor.com. Retrieved 7 November 2023.
- ^ a b c "Abdul Aziz confident experience in military will help him face new challenges in France". Borneo Post Online. 18 May 2010. Retrieved 7 November 2023.
- ^ a b c d e "EMBASSY OF MALAYSIA PARIS WELCOMES NEW AMBASSADOR OF MALAYSIA TO FRANCE". EMBASSY OF MALAYSIA, PARIS. 1 June 2010. Retrieved 7 November 2023.
- ^ RODZI, NADIRAH H. "MACC picks up bank chief". The Star. Retrieved 7 November 2023.
- ^ "Tentera Darat Malaysia - Senarai PTD". army.mil.my. Retrieved 7 November 2023.
- ^ "Board of Directors". 11 December 2007. Archived from the original on 11 December 2007. Retrieved 7 November 2023.
- ^ "Senarai Penerima Darjah Kebesaran, Bintang dan Pingat Persekutuan Tahun 1978" (PDF). www.istiadat.gov.my.
- ^ "Senarai Penerima Darjah Kebesaran, Bintang dan Pingat Persekutuan Tahun 2002" (PDF). www.istiadat.gov.my.
- ^ "Senarai Penerima Darjah Kebesaran, Bintang dan Pingat Persekutuan Tahun 2006" (PDF). www.istiadat.gov.my.
- ^ "Senarai Penerima Darjah Kebesaran, Bintang dan Pingat Persekutuan Tahun 2007" (PDF). www.istiadat.gov.my.
- ^ a b c d "Semakan Penerima Darjah Kebesaran Bintang Dan Pingat". www.istiadat.gov.my.
- ^ a b c "Carian Penerima Darjah Kebesaran, Bintang dan Pingat". eservices.kedah.gov.my.
- ^ "Taken at: Investiture ceremony of Distinguished Service …". www.nas.gov.sg. Retrieved 12 August 2024.
- ^ "BINTANG YUDHA DHARMA UTAMA | ANTARA Foto". antarafoto.com (in Indonesian). Retrieved 28 January 2024.
External links
edit
Media related to Abdul Aziz Zainal at Wikimedia Commons
