Regimental Sergeant Major of the Malaysian Armed Forces

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Regimental Sergeant Major of the Malaysian Armed Forces
Sarjan Mejar Rejimen Angkatan Tentera Malaysia
سرجن ميجر ريجيمن اڠكتن تنترا مليسيا‎
Incumbent
Warrant Officer Class 1 Shahamrie Abdullah
since 2 April 2024
Malaysian Armed Forces
StyleEncik / Puan / Cik
AbbreviationRSM-MAF (English)
SMR ATM (Malay)
Reports toChief of Defence Force
SeatWisma Kementah, Kuala Lumpur
Term lengthNot fixed
Formation6 October 2019
First holderWarrant Officer Class 1 Hayazi Abdul Aziz
SalaryZA12
Websitewww.mafhq.mil.my/index.php/ms/mengenai-kami/peneraju/smr-atm

The Regimental Sergeant Major of the Malaysian Armed Forces (Malay: Sarjan Mejar Rejimen Angkatan Tentera Malaysia; Jawi: سرجن ميجر ريجيمن اڠكتن تنترا مليسيا‎) is the highest appointment attainable within the other ranks of the Malaysian Armed Forces. The office holder serves as the principal adviser to the Chief of Defence Force on matters relating to other ranks and acts as their representative within the Armed Forces Headquarters. The appointment also carries responsibility for overseeing and coordinating the regimental sergeant majors or warrant officers of each service branch.[1]

The office is located at Wisma Kementah, commonly known as Wisma Pertahanan, the administrative centre of the Malaysian Armed Forces.[2]

The appointment is open to all branches of the Armed Forces, and the appointee is selected from among the senior warrant officers of each service, namely the Regimental Sergeant Major of the Army (Malay: Sarjan Mejar Rejimen Tentera Darat), the Warrant Officer of the Navy (Malay: Pegawai Waran Tentera Laut), and the Warrant Officer of the Air Force (Malay: Pegawai Waran Tentera Udara).[1]

The current Regimental Sergeant Major of the Malaysian Armed Forces is Warrant Officer Class 1 Shahamrie Abdullah of the Malaysian Army, who assumed the appointment on 2 April 2024, succeeding Warrant Officer Class 1 Hayazi Abdul Aziz.[2]

History

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The appointment of the Regimental Sergeant Major of the Malaysian Armed Forces was created on 6 October 2019, with Warrant Officer Class 1 Hayazi Abdul Aziz of the Malaysian Army serving as the inaugural holder.[3]

Prior to 2019, no equivalent position existed within the Malaysian Armed Forces Headquarters (MAFHQ). At that time, senior warrant officers of each service branch reported directly to the Chief of Staff of the Malaysian Armed Forces Headquarters (CS MAFHQ; Malay: Ketua Staf Markas Angkatan Tentera Malaysia) on matters concerning other ranks. This arrangement prompted the Armed Forces leadership to establish a dedicated post to act as the principal representative of other ranks within MAFHQ, ensuring their voice and welfare were adequately addressed and safeguarded.[4]

In 2019, two new appointments were introduced for other ranks at MAFHQ: the Regimental Sergeant Major of the Malaysian Armed Forces and the Ceremonial Regimental Sergeant Major of the Malaysian Armed Forces (Malay: Sarjan Mejar Rejimen Istiadat Angkatan Tentera Malaysia). The latter serves as the senior authority for ceremonial matters, military parades, and functions as master of ceremony at official events involving the Malaysian Armed Forces.[5]

Roles

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The Malaysian Armed Forces Headquarters (MAFHQ) has defined six primary roles for the Regimental Sergeant Major of the Malaysian Armed Forces:[1][6]

  • Serving as adviser to the Chief of Defence Force (CDF) on matters relating to the other ranks of the Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF) and their families.
  • Advising the CDF on service policy, career development, and social affairs of the other ranks.
  • Acting as the representative of the other ranks in conveying their concerns to the highest levels of leadership within the MAF and the MAFHQ.
  • Accompanying the CDF at formal military and state functions and providing feedback on urgent matters requiring immediate action.
  • Coordinating and supervising the regimental sergeant majors or warrant officers of each service branch in the management of their respective units.
  • Assisting the Chief of Staff of the Malaysian Armed Forces Headquarters in managing human resources for other ranks assigned to the MAFHQ.

In addition to these primary responsibilities, the Regimental Sergeant Major of the Malaysian Armed Forces also acts as chairman of the formal welcoming party for visiting senior enlisted personnel and other ranks from foreign armed forces.[7]

List of officeholders

[edit]

Since its establishment, two individuals have been appointed to the post of Regimental Sergeant Major of the Malaysian Armed Forces. The list is as follows:[2][3]


No. Portrait Regimental Sergeant Major of the Malaysian Armed Forces Took office Left office Time in office Defence branch Previous office
1
Hayazi Abdul Aziz
HayaziWarrant Officer Class 1
Hayazi Abdul Aziz
(born 1974)		6 October 20191 April 20244 years, 179 days Malaysian ArmyRegimental Sergeant Major of the Army
2
Shahamrie Abdullah
ShahamrieWarrant Officer Class 1
Shahamrie Abdullah
(born 1983)		2 April 2024Incumbent1 year, 197 days Malaysian ArmyRegimental Sergeant Major of the Army

References

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  1. ^ a b c Malaysian Armed Forces Headquarters. "Profil Sarjan Mejar Rejimen Angkatan Tentera Malaysia" [Profile of the Regimental Sergeant Major of the Malaysian Armed Forces]. mafhq.mil.my (in Malay). Archived from the original on 2025-03-17. Retrieved 2025-09-12.
  2. ^ a b c Malaysian Armed Forces Headquarters. "Serah Terima Tugas Sarjan Mejar Rejimen Angkatan Tentera Malaysia Yang Baharu" [Handing Over of Duties Ceremony for the New Regimental Sergeant Major of the Malaysian Armed Forces]. mafhq.mil.my (in Malay). Archived from the original on 2025-02-19. Retrieved 2025-09-12.
  3. ^ a b Angkatan Tentera Malaysia (2019-10-16). "Sarjan Mejar Rejimen Angkatan Tentera Malaysia Pertama" [First Regimental Sergeant Major of the Malaysian Armed Forces]. Angkatan Tentera Malaysia (in Malay). Archived from the original on 2025-09-12. Retrieved 2025-09-12.
  4. ^ Malaysian Armed Forces Headquarters (2024-06-07). "31 Tahun Dedikasi Kepada ATM, SMR ATM Pertama Dirai Dengan Penuh Istiadat" [31 Years of Dedication to the MAF, the First RSM-MAF Celebrated with Full Ceremony]. mafhq.mil.my (in Malay). Retrieved 2025-09-12.
  5. ^ Malaysian Armed Forces Headquarters (2023-03-07). "Perbarisan Ulung Sarjan Mejar Rejimen ATM Peringkat Markas ATM" [First Parade of the MAF Regimental Sergeant Major at the MAF Headquarters]. mafhq.mil.my (in Malay). Retrieved 2025-09-12.
  6. ^ Malaysian Armed Forces Headquarters (2022-04-20). "Kepimpinan Tertinggi Mindef, Atm Santuni Warga TLDM Di Lumut" [Mindef and MAF Top Leadership Grace RMN Personnel in Lumut]. mafhq.mil.my (in Malay). Archived from the original on 2022-12-08. Retrieved 2025-09-12.
  7. ^ Angkatan Tentera Malaysia (2025-05-05). "Kunjungan Hormat the State Command Chief for the Washington Air National Guard Ke Atas Sarjan Mejar Rejimen Atm" [Courtesy Call by the State Command Chief for the Washington Air National Guard on the MAF Regimental Sergeant Major]. Angkatan Tentera Malaysia (in Malay). Archived from the original on 2025-09-12. Retrieved 2025-09-12.