KUALA LUMPUR – His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia, has consented to the appointment of Lieutenant-General Datuk Malek Razak Sulaiman as the new Chief of Defence Force, effective Feb 1, marking a pivotal change in the Armed Forces’ leadership.
Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin said His Majesty also approved Malek Razak’s promotion to the rank of General prior to his appointment.
“This appointment is made in line with the recommendation of the 633rd (Special) Armed Forces Council meeting held on Jan 29, and subsequently received the consent of His Majesty on Jan 30,” he said in a statement today.
Mohamed Khaled noted that Malek Razak holds a Diploma in Strategic and Security Studies from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), a Master of Arts in Defence Studies from King’s College London, and a Master of Social Science (Defence Studies) from UKM.
He began his military career in 1985 as an Overseas Cadet Officer at the Royal Military College, Sandhurst, United Kingdom, and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant on Dec 11, 1987.
Malek Razak started out as a platoon commander with the 21st Battalion of the Royal Malay Regiment and went on to serve in various units, holding numerous command and staff appointments throughout nearly four decades of service.
“His last post before this appointment was Western Field Commander of the Army,” Mohamed Khaled said.
The Defence Minister added that Malek Razak has consistently demonstrated exceptional capability, leadership and excellence over his career.
“Based on his extensive experience and proven credibility, the Ministry of Defence is confident this appointment will strengthen the leadership and capabilities of the Armed Forces in addressing national defence challenges.
It will also help restore and reinforce the Armed Forces’ prestige through leadership founded on integrity and professionalism, in addition to maintaining the public’s confidence in the country’s defence institution,” he said. – January 31, 2026