Abdul Aziz Zainal

In this Malay name, there is no surname or family name. The name Zainal is a patronymic, and the person should be referred to by their given name, Abdul Aziz. The word "bin/ibn" or "binti"/"binte" means 'son of' or 'daughter of', respectively.

Yang Berbahagia General (Rtd) Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Zainal PGAT PSM SPMP SPKK SSDK SSAP SIMP SPTS SPTJ DHMS PSAT DGMK DSAP DIMP PAT JMN KAT AMN PPS PPA PNBB PJM DPKT DUBC PM
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	Muhammad Ismail Jamaluddin
Personal details
Born	Abdul Aziz (1951-08-26) 26 August 1951 (age 74) Kuala Pilah, Negeri Sembilan, Federation of Malaya (now Malaysia)
Spouse	Rositah Md. Mawi
Children	4
Alma mater	Royal Military College Asian Management Institute
Occupation	Diplomat
Military service
Allegiance	Malaysia
Branch/service	Malaysian Army
Years of service	1969–2009
Rank	General
Commands	3rd Battalion, Royal Malay Regiment 3rd Infantry Division Chief of Army Malaysian Armed Forces Headquarters

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]

Biography

Education

Aziz 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

After 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

On 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

Aziz 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

Aziz holds accreditations in Portugal and Monaco, in addition to earning the following honours;^[6][7]

Honours of Malaysia

• Malaysia
  • Commander of the Order of the Defender of the Realm (PMN) – Tan Sri (2007)^[8][9]
  • Commander of the Order of Loyalty to the Crown of Malaysia (PSM) – Tan Sri (2006)^[10][11]
  • Companion of the Order of the Defender of the Realm (JMN) (2002)^[12]
  • Member of the Order of the Defender of the Realm (AMN) (1978)^[13]
  • Recipient of the Loyal Service Medal (PPS)
  • Recipient of the General Service Medal (PPA)
  • Recipient of the United Nations Missions Service Medal (PNBB) with "BOSNIA" clasp (1997)
  • Recipient of the 10th Yang di-Pertuan Agong Installation Medal
  • Recipient of the 11th Yang di-Pertuan Agong Installation Medal
  • Recipient of the 12th Yang di-Pertuan Agong Installation Medal
  • Recipient of the 13th Yang di-Pertuan Agong Installation Medal
• Malaysian Armed Forces
  • Courageous Commander of the Most Gallant Order of Military Service (PGAT)
  • Loyal Commander of the Most Gallant Order of Military Service (PSAT) (2002)^[14]
  • Warrior of the Most Gallant Order of Military Service (PAT)
  • Officer of the Most Gallant Order of Military Service (KAT)
  • Recipient of the Malaysian Service Medal (PJM)
• Kedah
  • Knight Grand Companion of the Order of Loyalty to the Royal House of Kedah (SSDK) – Dato' Seri (2008)^[15][16]
  • Knight Commander of the Order of Loyalty to Sultan Abdul Halim Mu'adzam Shah (DHMS) – Dato' Paduka (2006)^[17][15][18]
  • Knight Commander of the Glorious Order of the Crown of Kedah (DGMK) – Dato' Wira (2005)^[15][19]
  • Recipient of Sultan Abdul Halim Golden Jubilee Medal (2008)
• Kelantan
  • Knight Grand Commander of the Order of the Noble Crown of Kelantan (SPKK) – Dato' (2005)^[20]
  • Recipient of the Sultan Ismail Petra Silver Jubilee Medal (2004)
• Negeri Sembilan
  • Knight Grand Commander of the Order of Tuanku Jaafar (SPTJ) – Dato' Seri (2005)^[21][22]
• Pahang
  • Knight Grand Companion of the Order of Sultan Ahmad Shah of Pahang (SSAP) – Dato' Sri (2004)^[23]
  • Grand Knight of the Order of the Crown of Pahang (SIMP) – formerly Dato', now Dato' Indera (2003)^[24]
  • Knight Companion of the Order of Sultan Ahmad Shah of Pahang (DSAP) – Dato' (2002)^[25]
  • Knight Companion of the Order of the Crown of Pahang (DIMP) – Dato' (1998)^[26]
  • Recipient of the Sultan Ahmad Shah Silver Jubilee Medal (1999)
• Perak
  • Knight Grand Commander of the Order of Taming Sari (SPTS) – Dato' Seri Panglima (2005)^[27]
• Perlis
  • Knight Grand Commander of the Order of the Crown of Perlis (SPMP) – Dato' Seri (2007)^[28]

Foreign honours

• Brunei
  • First Class of the Most Exalted Order of Paduka Keberanian Laila Terbilang (DPKT) – Dato Paduka Seri
• France
  • Officer of the Legion of Honour
• Indonesia
  • First class (Utama) of the Star of Yudha Dharma (2010)^[29]
• Singapore
  • Darjah Utama Bakti Cemerlang (DUBC) (2009)^[30]
• Thailand
  • Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Crown of Thailand (PM) (2010)^[31]

References

1. "GEN (R) TAN SRI ABDUL AZIZ BIN ZAINAL @ [GLOMAC]: GLOMAC BHD | Corporate Figure or Shareholder". klse.i3investor.com. Retrieved 7 November 2023.
2. "[STRAITS] Chairman & Director APPOINTMENT - JENERAL TAN SRI ABDUL AZIZ BIN ZAINAL on 10-Oct-2013". klse.i3investor.com. Retrieved 7 November 2023.
3. "Abdul Aziz confident experience in military will help him face new challenges in France". Borneo Post Online. 18 May 2010. Retrieved 7 November 2023.
4. "EMBASSY OF MALAYSIA PARIS WELCOMES NEW AMBASSADOR OF MALAYSIA TO FRANCE". EMBASSY OF MALAYSIA, PARIS. 1 June 2010. Retrieved 7 November 2023.
5. RODZI, NADIRAH H. "MACC picks up bank chief". The Star. Retrieved 7 November 2023.
6. "Tentera Darat Malaysia - Senarai PTD". army.mil.my. Retrieved 7 November 2023.
7. "Board of Directors". 11 December 2007. Archived from the original on 11 December 2007. Retrieved 7 November 2023.
8. "Senarai Penerima Darjah Kebesaran, Bintang dan Pingat Persekutuan Tahun 2007" (PDF). www.istiadat.gov.my.
9. "Yang Di-Pertuan Agong's birthday honours list". The Star. 2 June 2007. Archived from the original on 28 August 2019. Retrieved 28 August 2019.
10. "Senarai Penerima Darjah Kebesaran, Bintang dan Pingat Persekutuan Tahun 2006" (PDF). www.istiadat.gov.my.
11. "Musa Hitam heads King's birthday list". New Straits Times. 3 June 2006. p. 14.
12. "Senarai Penerima Darjah Kebesaran, Bintang dan Pingat Persekutuan Tahun 2002" (PDF). www.istiadat.gov.my.
13. "Senarai Penerima Darjah Kebesaran, Bintang dan Pingat Persekutuan Tahun 1978" (PDF). www.istiadat.gov.my.
14. King Honours 199 Military Officers. The New Straits Times. 20 September 2002. p. 8.
15. "Carian Penerima Darjah Kebesaran, Bintang dan Pingat". eservices.kedah.gov.my.
16. "Tiga Kerabat Diraja Kedah Dahului Senarai 72 Penerima Darjah Kebesaran Jubli Emas Sultan Kedah" (in Malay). 16 July 2008. Archived from the original on 12 September 2017. Retrieved 24 June 2018.
17. "Pengurniaan Darjah Kebesaran Bergelar Bagi Tahun 2006 Mengikut Negeri" (PDF). Prime Minister's Department (Malaysia). Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 June 2014. Retrieved 16 March 2024.
18. "2006 Sultan of Kedah honour's list". The Star. 24 January 2006. Archived from the original on 25 September 2018. Retrieved 12 September 2024.
19. "Sultan of Kedah's birthday honours list". The Star. 18 April 2005. Archived from the original on 5 June 2019. Retrieved 12 September 2024.
20. "Sultan of Kelantan birthday honours list". The Star. 30 October 2008. Archived from the original on 15 September 2018. Retrieved 2 April 2005.
21. "Pengurniaan Darjah Kebesaran Bergelar Tahun 2005 Mengikut Negeri" (PDF). Prime Minister's Department (Malaysia). Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 June 2014. Retrieved 16 March 2024.
22. "Yang Di-Pertuan Besar of Negri Sembilan's 83rd Birthday Honours list". The Star. 25 July 2005. Archived from the original on 14 April 2021. Retrieved 12 September 2024.
23. "Sultan of Pahang's 74th birthday honours list". The Star. 26 October 2004. Archived from the original on 12 September 2018. Retrieved 25 September 2018.
24. "Pahang royalty heads state honours list". The Star. 25 October 2003. Archived from the original on 29 June 2018. Retrieved 25 September 2018.
25. "Pengurniaan Darjah Kebesaran Bergelar Bagi Tahun 2002 Mengikut Negeri" (PDF). Prime Minister's Department (Malaysia). Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 September 2013. Retrieved 16 March 2024.
26. "Pengurniaan Darjah Kebesaran Bergelar Bagi Tahun 1998 Mengikut Negeri" (PDF). Prime Minister's Department (Malaysia). Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 June 2014. Retrieved 16 March 2024.
27. "Sultan of Perak's birthday honours list". The Star. 27 April 2005. Archived from the original on 24 September 2018. Retrieved 25 September 2018.
28. "Pengurniaan Darjah Kebesaran Bergelar Tahun 2007 Mengikut Negeri" (PDF) (in Malay). Prime Minister's Department (Malaysia). Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 September 2013. Retrieved 16 March 2024.
29. "BINTANG YUDHA DHARMA UTAMA | ANTARA Foto". antarafoto.com (in Indonesian). Retrieved 28 January 2024.
30. "Taken at: Investiture ceremony of Distinguished Service …". www.nas.gov.sg. Retrieved 12 August 2024.
31. "Royal Thai Government Gazette" (PDF).

External links

Media related to Abdul Aziz Zainal at Wikimedia Commons