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Yang Berbahagia General (Rtd) Tan Sri Dato' Seri PanglimaZulkifli Zainal AbidinPGAT PMN PSM PJN SPMS SPKK SSAP SIMP DPPN DGPN SPMT SPTS SSTM PSAT DHMS DGMK DPMS DSAP DPTS PAT JSM KMN BSK AMK PPS PPA PJM PKN DPKT DUBC | |
---|---|
General Zulkifli in 2018 | |
20th Chief of Defence Forces | |
In office 20 June 2018 – 1 January 2020 | |
Prime Minister | Mahathir Mohamad |
Preceded by | Raja Mohamed Affandi Raja Mohamed Noor |
Succeeded by | Affendi Buang |
24th Chief of Army | |
In office 14 June 2011 – 13 June 2013 | |
Preceded by | Zulkifeli Mohd Zin |
Succeeded by | Raja Mohamed Affandi Raja Mohamed Noor |
Personal details | |
Born | (1960-11-30) 30 November 1960 (age 64) Kuala Sepetang, Larut, Perak, Federation of Malaya |
Nickname | Zul White |
Military service | |
Allegiance | Malaysia |
Branch/service | Malaysian Army |
Years of service | 1978-2020 |
Rank | General |
Unit | Royal Malay Regiment |
Commands | Chief of Defence Forces Chief of Army Senior Staff Officer to the Chief of Defence Force |
Battles/wars | Communist insurgency in Malaysia (1968–89) |
Service number | T3000599 |
Zulkifli Zainal Abidin (born 30 November 1960) is a Malaysian general who served as the 20th Chief of Defence Forces. He served as the Chief of Army from June 14, 2011 to June 13, 2013.
Life and military service background
He was born in Kuala Sepetang, Perak, Malaysia on November 30, 1960.
He was commissioned in the Royal Malay Regiment as a Second Lieutenant in 1978, and ever since, held various commands in the Army and Armed Forces, including as the Senior Staff Officer to the Chief of Defence Force in 2001, and Vice Chancellor of the National Defence University of Malaysia from September 2008 to May 2010, and again from June 2013 to May 2018.
He also attended various courses such as the Senior Development Programme at the John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, in Cambridge, Massachusetts, holds a Master in Management from the Asian Institute of Management at Makati, Philippines, obtained an Advanced Diploma in Business and Management (Distinction) from Swansea University, University of Wales, and a diploma from the Royal College of Defence Studies (Imperial Defence College) in London. He is also an adjunct professor to the Centre of Business Innovation and Technopreneurship, in the Universiti Malaysia Perlis since 2010, and appointed as professor (Profesor Ikhtisas) by the National Defence University of Malaysia in 2017.
He was involved in the Communist insurgency, and served as a senior instructor at the Army Training Group and Senior Instructor at the New Zealand Army Infantry school of the New Zealand Army from 1986 to 1988, training the New Zealand Army and other Commonwealth armies in training weapons, tactics and counter insurgency warfare. He was also the Commandant of the Army Recruit Training Centre from 2002 to 2004, and was appointed as the Chief of the Malaysian Army from June 2011 to June 2013.
His interests include reading about Management (Defence, Training and Human Resources Management), Defence and Security Studies (Total Defence, Counter Insurgency and Terrorism), Leadership and Development subjects, as well as taking care of orchards, fishing and hunting.
He is married to Puan Sri Datin Seri Hajjah Rusnah binti Haji A. Rahman and the couple is blessed with four children, two sons and two daughters.
Post-military career
After retiring from military service, Zulkifli continues his life as a civilian without anything holding any position GLC compared to other former Chiefs of Army and Chiefs of Defence Forces as well as Chiefs of the Air Force and Chiefs of the Navy who have since retired from service.
However on 20 January 2023, Zulkifli was appointed as Chief Negotiator of the South Thailand insurgency peace process, succeeding the 5th Inspector of General Police, Tan Sri Abdul Rahim Mohd Noor who held the office for 15 years since 2008.
Honours
- Malaysia :
- Commander of the Order of the Defender of the Realm (PMN) – Tan Sri (2019)
- Commander of the Order of Loyalty to the Crown of Malaysia (PSM) – Tan Sri (2012)
- Commander of the Order of Meritorious Service (PJN) – Datuk (2011)
- Companion of the Order of Loyalty to the Crown of Malaysia (JSM) (2007)
- Officer of the Order of the Defender of the Realm (KMN) (1996)
- Recipient of the Loyal Service Medal (PPS)
- Recipient of the General Service Medal (PPA)
- Recipient of the National Sovereignty Medal (PKN)
- Recipient of the 12th Yang di-Pertuan Agong Installation Medal
- Recipient of the 13th Yang di-Pertuan Agong Installation Medal
- Recipient of the 14th Yang di-Pertuan Agong Installation Medal
- Recipient of the 15th Yang di-Pertuan Agong Installation Medal
- Recipient of the 16th Yang di-Pertuan Agong Installation Medal
- Malaysian Armed Forces :
- Courageous Commander of the Most Gallant Order of Military Service (PGAT) (2012)
- 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)
- Kedah :
- Knight Commander of the Order of Loyalty to Sultan Abdul Halim Mu'adzam Shah (DHMS) – Dato' Paduka (2012)
- Knight Commander of the Glorious Order of the Crown of Kedah (DGMK) – Dato' Wira (2011)
- Member of the Exalted Order of the Crown of Kedah (AMK) (1998)
- Kelantan :
- Negeri Sembilan :
- Pahang :
- Grand Knight of the Order of Sultan Ahmad Shah of Pahang (SSAP) – Dato' Sri (2012)
- Grand Knight of the Order of the Crown of Pahang (SIMP) – Dato' Indera (2011)
- Knight Companion of the Order of Sultan Ahmad Shah of Pahang (DSAP) – Dato' (2010)
- Penang :
- Knight Commander of the Order of the Defender of State (DPPN) – Dato' Seri (2018)
- Commander of the Order of the Defender of State (DGPN) – Dato' Seri (2012)
- Perak :
- Knight Grand Commander of the Order of Taming Sari (SPTS) – Dato' Seri Panglima (2012)
- Knight Commander of the Order of Taming Sari (DPTS) – Dato' Pahlawan (2007)
- Selangor :
- Knight Grand Commander of the Order of the Crown of Selangor (SPMS) – Dato' Seri (2018)
- Knight Commander of the Order of the Crown of Selangor (DPMS) – Dato' (2012)
- Terengganu :
- Knight Grand Commander of the Order of the Crown of Terengganu (SPMT) – Dato' (2013)
Foreign honours
- Brunei:
- – The Most Exalted Order of Famous Valour 1st Cl – Darjah Paduka Keberanian Laila Terbilang Yang Amat Gemilang Darjah Pertama – (DPKT) which carries the title Dato Paduka Seri
- Singapore:
- – Darjah Utama Bakti Cemerlang (Tentera) – (DUBC)
- Thailand :
- Honorary Airborne Wings - From The Royal Thai Army
References
- "Zulkifli Zainal Abidin new Chief of Defence Forces". Borneo Post Online. 20 June 2018. Retrieved 5 December 2019.
- Abas, Marhalim (2 June 2018). "New Chief, Plan B, Sort Of". Malaysian Defence.
- "CDF Profile".
- "PMN 2019" (PDF) (in Malay). Prime Minister's Department (Malaysia). Archived (PDF) from the original on 30 March 2023. Retrieved 9 August 2024.
- "CJ, AG Tommy Thomas, IGP among those awarded 'Tan Sri' in conjunction with Agong's birthday". Bernama. Malay Mail. 9 September 2019. Archived from the original on 21 December 2022. Retrieved 9 September 2019.
- "PSM 2012" (PDF) (in Malay). Prime Minister's Department (Malaysia). Archived (PDF) from the original on 9 August 2024. Retrieved 9 August 2024.
- "324 orang dikurnia Darjah Kebesaran Persekutuan 2012" (in Malay). The Borneo Post. 10 October 2012. Archived from the original on 14 June 2021. Retrieved 9 August 2024.
- "PJN 2011" (PDF) (in Malay). Prime Minister's Department (Malaysia). Archived (PDF) from the original on 7 November 2023. Retrieved 26 September 2024.
- "Abdullah Ayub among 1,707 conferred titles in conjunction with King's birthday". The Star. 5 June 2011. Retrieved 17 October 2018.
- "SENARAI PENUH PENERIMA DARJAH KEBESARAN, BINTANG DAN PINGAT PERSEKUTUAN TAHUN 2007" (PDF) (in Malay). Prime Minister's Department (Malaysia). Archived (PDF) from the original on 13 May 2023. Retrieved 26 September 2024.
- "Yang Di-Pertuan Agong's birthday honours list". The Star. 2 June 2007. Archived from the original on 6 August 2021. Retrieved 26 September 2024.
- "SENARAI PENUH PENERIMA DARJAH KEBESARAN, BINTANG DAN PINGAT PERSEKUTUAN TAHUN 1996" (PDF) (in Malay). Prime Minister's Department (Malaysia). Archived (PDF) from the original on 4 April 2023. Retrieved 26 September 2024.
- "Tuanku Mizan Kurnia Pingat Darjah Kepahlawanan ATM" (in Malay). mStar. 6 October 2011. Archived from the original on 12 December 2023. Retrieved 26 September 2024.
- "Sultan Kelantan Dahului Senarai Penerima Darjah Kebesaran Kedah" (in Malay). mStar. 14 January 2012. Archived from the original on 19 June 2024. Retrieved 26 September 2024.
- "Tunku Bendahara Terima Darjah Kebesaran Sempena Pelantikan Sultan Kedah". mStar (in Malay). 12 December 2011. Retrieved 9 May 2018.
- "Carian Penerima Darjah Kebesaran, Bintang dan Pingat". eservices.kedah.gov.my.
- "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.
- "Tuanku Muhriz to give medals in conjunction with 65th birthday". The Star. 14 January 2013. Archived from the original on 22 June 2021. Retrieved 15 September 2018.
- Mohd Amin Jalil (14 January 2013). "735 terima pingat Negeri Sembilan" (in Malay). Berita Harian. Archived from the original on 26 September 2024. Retrieved 26 September 2024.
- "Senarai Penerima Darjah-Darjah Kebesaran dan Pingat-Pingat Negeri Pahang Darul Makmur Tahun 2012" (PDF) (in Malay). Government of Pahang Gazette. 17 April 2012. Archived (PDF) from the original on 3 July 2024. Retrieved 26 September 2024.
- "Sultan of Pahang Birthday Honours List". The Star. 27 October 2012. Archived from the original on 6 September 2023. Retrieved 26 September 2024.
- "Johor Sultan Heads List Of Awards On Sultan Of Pahang's Birthday" (PDF). Bernama. 24 October 2011. Retrieved 26 September 2024.
- Mohamed Basyir (14 July 2018). "Penang Yang di-Pertua Negeri reminds lawmakers to fulfil GE14 pledges". The Straits Times. Retrieved 26 September 2024.
- "Chief Justice heads Penang honours list of 1,138 people". The Star. 14 July 2012. Archived from the original on 16 September 2018. Retrieved 16 September 2018.
- "SPTS 2012". pingat.perak.gov.my.
- "Perak Sultan honours 867". The Star. 22 May 2012. Archived from the original on 16 September 2018. Retrieved 30 October 2018.
- "DPTS 2007". pingat.perak.gov.my.
- "Sultan of Perak's Birthday Honours List". The Star. 23 April 2007. Archived from the original on 10 May 2017. Retrieved 30 October 2018.
- "SPMS 2018". awards.selangor.gov.my.
- Norzamira Che Noh (11 December 2018). "Tengku Puan Panglima Perlis dahului senarai penerima darjah kebesaran" (in Malay). Berita Harian. Retrieved 27 September 2024.
- "DPMS 2012". awards.selangor.gov.my.
- "Chief Justice Heads Selangor Honours List". Bernama. Malaysian Times. 11 December 2012. Archived from the original on 16 September 2018. Retrieved 16 September 2018.
- "Johor Sultan Heads Terengganu Honours List" (PDF). Bernama. 26 April 2013. Retrieved 26 September 2024.
- People from Perak
- 1960 births
- Living people
- Malaysian military personnel
- Officers of the Order of the Defender of the Realm
- Companions of the Order of Loyalty to the Crown of Malaysia
- Commanders of the Order of Meritorious Service
- Commanders of the Order of Loyalty to the Crown of Malaysia
- Commanders of the Order of the Defender of the Realm
- Knights Commander of the Order of the Crown of Selangor
- Knights Grand Commander of the Order of the Crown of Selangor
- Knights Grand Commander of the Order of the Crown of Terengganu