Zulkiple Kassim

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

Yang Berbahagia General (Rtd) Tan Sri Dato' Seri Zulkiple Kassim PGAT PSM PJN SPMS SSAP DPPN SPTS DCSM PSAT DGMK DPKK DSAP DIMP DSMZ DPMK PMW PAT JSM SMZ SDK KMN AMT AMP PPS PPA PJM PKN
ذوالكفل كسسيم‎
Zulkiple in 2018
26th Chief of Army
In office 17 December 2016 – 2 September 2018
Monarch	Muhammad V
Prime Minister	Najib Razak (2016–2018) Mahathir Mohamad (2018)
Minister of Defence	Hishamuddin Hussein (2016–2018) Mohamad Sabu (2018)
Preceded by	Raja Mohamed Affandi
Succeeded by	Ahmad Hasbullah Mohd Nawawi
Personal details
Born	(1959-02-24) 24 February 1959 (age 66) Gong Kapas, Kuala Terengganu, Terengganu, Federation of Malaya (now Malaysia)
Spouse	Zaleha Md Yusof
Children	5
Alma mater	Royal Military Academy Sandhurst Universiti Utara Malaysia
Military service
Allegiance	Malaysia
Branch/service	Malaysian Army
Years of service	1977–2018
Rank	General
Battles/wars	Communist insurgency in Malaysia (1968–89) Operation Daulat

Zulkiple bin Haji Kassim (Jawi: ذوالكفل بن حاج كسسيم‎; born 24 February 1959), is a Malaysian retired military officer who served as the 26th Chief of Malaysian Army from December 2016 to September 2018.^[1][2]

Early life and education

Zulkiple was born on 24 February 1959 in Gong Kapas, Kuala Terengganu. In 1977, he attend the Officer Cadet Course at Royal Military Academy Sandhurst and he completed the course in 1978. He also graduated on Master of Science in Management from Universiti Utara Malaysia.^[3]

Career

Military Career

Zulkiple was commissioned to Second lieutenant on 7 April 1978 and posted as officer in 6th Battalion, Royal Malay Regiment. Throughout his military career, he has served in various positions. Some positions including as Trainer at the Junior Officer Combat Training Centre in 1982 , Assistant Commanding Officer of the 9th Battalion of the Royal Malay Regiment (Para) in 1994, Commanding Officer of the 17th Battalion of the Royal Malay Regiment (Para) in 1994, Military Assistant to the Minister of Defence in 1998, Commanding Officer of the 10th Battalion of the Royal Malay Regiment in Johor Bahru in 2000, Director of Infantry in 2001, Commander of the 4th Brigade (Mechanised) in 2003, Director of the Department of Veterans Affairs in 2005, Commander of the 4th Infantry Division in 2007 and Commander of the Army Western Field Command in 2011.^[3]

Zulkiple was appointed 26th Chief of Army on 17 December 2016 following appointment of his predecessor Raja Mohamed Affandi as the 19th Chief of Defence Forces.^[2] The position he held until his retirement on 2 September 2018 and succeeded by Ahmad Hasbullah Mohd Nawawi.^[4]

Post-military career

Zulkiple Kassim is currently the Chairman of PH Empire Holdings Berhad.^[5]

Personal life

Zulkiple was married with Zaleha binti Md Yusof and blessed with three sons and two daughters. He likes playing golf and soccer in spare time.^[3]

Honours

• Malaysia
  • Commander of the Order of Loyalty to the Crown of Malaysia (PSM) – Tan Sri (2017)^[6][7]
  • Commander of the Order of Meritorious Service (PJN) – Datuk (2012)^[8]
  • Companion of the Order of Loyalty to the Crown of Malaysia (JSM) (2005)^[9][10]
  • Officer of the Order of the Defender of the Realm (KMN) (1999)^[11]
  • Recipient of the Loyal Service Medal (PPS)
  • Recipient of the General Service Medal (PPA)
  • Recipient of the National Sovereignty Medal (PKN)
  • Recipient of the 14th Yang di-Pertuan Agong Installation Medal
• Malaysian Armed Forces
  • Courageous Commander of the Most Gallant Order of Military Service (PGAT) (2017)^[12]
  • Loyal Commander of the Most Gallant Order of Military Service (PSAT)
  • Warrior of the Most Gallant Order of Military Service (PAT)
  • Recipient of the Malaysian Service Medal (PJM)
• Federal Territory (Malaysia)
  • Commander of the Order of the Territorial Crown (PMW) – Datuk (2010)^[13]
• Kedah
  • Knight Commander of the Glorious Order of the Crown of Kedah (DGMK) – Dato' Wira (2013)^[14]
  • Knight Commander of the Order of the Crown of Kedah (DPMK) – Dato' (2009)^[15]
  • Companion of the Order of Loyalty to the Royal House of Kedah (SDK) (2002)^[16]
• Kelantan
  • Knight Commander of the Order of the Noble Crown of Kelantan (DPKK) – Dato' (2012)^[17]
• Malacca
  • Knight Commander of the Exalted Order of Malacca (DCSM) – Datuk Wira (2017)^[18]
• Pahang
  • Grand Knight of the Order of Sultan Ahmad Shah of Pahang (SSAP) – Dato' Sri (2012)^[19]
  • Knight Companion of the Order of Sultan Ahmad Shah of Pahang (DSAP) – Dato' (2005)^[20]
  • Knight Companion of the Order of the Crown of Pahang (DIMP) – Dato' (2004)^[21]
  • Member of the Order of the Crown of Pahang (AMP)
• Penang
  • Knight Commander of the Order of the Defender of State (DPPN) – Dato' Seri (2017)^[22]
• Perak
  • Knight Grand Commander of the Order of Taming Sari (SPTS) – Dato' Seri Panglima (2017)^[23][24]
• Selangor
  • Knight Grand Commander of the Order of the Crown of Selangor (SPMS) – Dato' Seri (2017)^[25][26]
• Terengganu
  • Knight Companion of the Order of Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin of Terengganu (DSMZ) – Dato' (2012)^[27]
  • Companion of the Order of Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin of Terengganu (SMZ) (2003)^[28]
  • Member of the Order of the Crown of Terengganu (AMT)

References

1. "Senarai Panglima Tentera Darat". Official Website of Malaysian Army. Retrieved 29 July 2025.
2. Bernama (16 December 2016). "Zulkiple Kassim is the New Army Chief". New Straits Times. Retrieved 16 May 2022.
3. "Profil Panglima Tentera Darat". Official website of the Malaysian Army (in Malay). Archived from the original on 25 March 2018. Retrieved 25 September 2018.
4. "Ahmad Hasbullah Panglima Tentera Darat ke-27" (in Malay). Utusan Malaysia. 3 September 2018. Archived from the original on 28 March 2019. Retrieved 3 September 2018.
5. "Our leadership". pheberhad.com. Archived from the original on 2020-09-22. Retrieved 2022-05-15.
6. "Senarai Penerima Panglima Setia Mahkota Tahun 2017" (PDF). Ceremonial Division and International Conference Secretariat, Prime Minister's Department (Malaysia) (in Malay).
7. "Agong kurnia darjah kebesaran kepada 103 penerima" (in Malay). Berita Harian. 9 September 2017. Retrieved 6 November 2020.
8. "Senarai Penerima Panglima Jasa Negara Tahun 2012" (PDF). Ceremonial Division and International Conference Secretariat, Prime Minister's Department (Malaysia) (in Malay).
9. "Senarai Penuh Penerima Darjah Kebesaran, Bintang dan Pingat Persekutuan Tahun 2005" (PDF). Ceremonial Division and International Conference Secretariat, Prime Minister's Department (Malaysia) (in Malay).
10. Bernama (5 June 2005). "The Yang di-Pertuan Agong's 62nd birthday honours list". The Star. Archived from the original on 15 September 2018. Retrieved 26 October 2018.
11. "Senarai Penuh Penerima Darjah Kebesaran, Bintang dan Pingat Persekutuan Tahun 1999" (PDF). Ceremonial Division and International Conference Secretariat, Prime Minister's Department (Malaysia) (in Malay).
12. "Agong kurnia 549 pingat pada tentera" (in Malay). Berita Harian. 14 October 2017. Retrieved 26 August 2024.
13. "Tun Abdullah Ketuai Senarai Penerima Darjah Kebesaran Wilayah Persekutuan 2010" (in Malay). mStar. 31 January 2010. Retrieved 15 September 2018.
14. "Mukhriz and RMAF chief lead Sultan's 85th birthday honours list". The Star. 20 January 2013. Archived from the original on 8 March 2021. Retrieved 27 November 2024.
15. "Kedah Sultan to honour 62". The Star. 18 January 2009. Retrieved 27 November 2024.
16. "Senarai Kehormatan Hari Keputeraan Kebawah Duli Yang Maha Mulia Sultan Negeri Kedah Darul Aman Tahun 2002" (PDF) (in Malay). Government of Kedah Darul Aman Gazette. p. 145-206. Retrieved 27 November 2024.
17. "KSN ketuai senarai penerima darjah kebesaran Kelantan". Bernama (in Malay). Sinar Harian. 11 November 2012. Archived from the original on 15 September 2018. Retrieved 15 September 2018.
18. Nurul Fhatihah Zakinan (4 November 2017). "Halimah antara 12 penerima Darjah Cemerlang Seri Melaka" (in Malay). Berita Harian. Retrieved 27 November 2024.
19. "Sultan of Pahang Birthday Honours List". The Star. 27 October 2012.
20. "King leads honours list". The Star. 24 October 2005. Archived from the original on 23 January 2021. Retrieved 12 September 2024.
21. "Sultan of Pahang's 74th birthday honours list". The Star. 26 October 2004. Archived from the original on 20 January 2021. Retrieved 12 September 2024.
22. "Ketua Hakim Negara dahului senarai penerima darjah kebesaran Pulau Pinang" (in Malay). Utusan Borneo. 22 July 2017. Retrieved 27 November 2024.
23. "SPTS 2017". pingat.perak.gov.my. Retrieved 15 May 2022.
24. Jalal Ali Abdul Abdul Rahim; Shamsul Kamal Amarudin (5 November 2017). "31 terima anugerah Perak hari ini" (in Malay). Berita Harian. Retrieved 27 November 2024.
25. "SPMS 2017". awards.selangor.gov.my. Retrieved 15 May 2022.
26. Ruwaida Md Zain (11 December 2017). "CEO NSTP antara penerima darjah kebesaran Selangor" (in Malay). Berita Harian. Retrieved 27 November 2024.
27. "Tunku Muhriz Dahului Senarai 294 Penerima Darjah Kebesaran Terengganu" (PDF). Bernama (in Malay). 20 July 2012.
28. "Terengganu Sultan honours father in law and 86 others". New Straits Times. 20 July 2003. p. 8.