Malek Razak Sulaiman

Yang Berbahagia General Tan Sri
Malek Razak Sulaiman
PMN SPMP SSPK PSAT PGDK PAT KAT AMK BCK PJK PPS PPA PJM
مالك رزاق سليمان
Official portrait, 2026
24th Chief of the Defence Forces
Incumbent
Assumed office
1 February 2026
MonarchIbrahim
Prime MinisterAnwar Ibrahim
MinisterMohamed Khaled Nordin
Preceded byZulhelmy Ithnain (acting)
Personal details
BornMalek Razak bin Sulaiman
(1967-03-24) 24 March 1967
Batu Pahat, Johor, Malaysia
SpouseSiti Juana Md Ibrahim
Children3
EducationRoyal Military College
Alma materNational University of Malaysia (Dip, MSc)
King's College London (MA)
OccupationMilitary officer
Military service
Allegiance Malaysia
Branch/service Malaysian Army
Years of service
1987–present
Rank General
UnitRoyal Malay Regiment
CommandsChief of Defence Force
Western Field Army
5th Infantry Division
2nd Infantry Brigade
25th Battalion, Royal Malay Regiment
Battles/warsSecond Malayan Emergency

Malek Razak bin Sulaiman (Jawi: مالك رزاق بن سليمان; born 24 March 1967) is a Malaysian military officer who has served as the 24th Chief of the Defence Forces since 1 February 2026.[1][2][3][4] Previously, he served as the Army Western Field Commander of the Malaysian Army.[5]

Early life and education

Malek Razak bin Sulaiman was born in Batu Pahat, Johor, Malaysia. He holds a Diploma in Strategy and Security 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.

Military career (1985–present)

Malek Razak joined the Malaysian Army as an Overseas Officer Cadet at the Royal Military College, Sandhurst in the United Kingdom in 1985 and he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant on 11 December 1987. He later began his career as a platoon commander at the 21st Battalion, Royal Malay Regiment.[6]

Malek Razak held various key command positions in the Malaysian Army, primarily in infantry units within the Western Field Army, which includes being the Commanding Officer of the 25th Battalion, Royal Malay Regiment, the Brigade Commander of the 2nd Infantry Brigade and the Division Commander of the 5th Infantry Division. His expertise in operations and training operations was later strengthened through his appointments at headquarters-level commands such as the Assistant Chief of Staff, Army Operations and Training and the Assistant Chief of Staff, Defence Operations and Training, Malaysian Armed Forces Headquarters before being entrusted as the Commander of the Western Field Army of the Malaysian Army.

On 1 February 2026, Malek Razak was promoted from the rank Lieutenant-General to a full General upon his appointment as the 24th Chief of the Malaysian Armed Forces, thus assuming the highest responsibility to lead the Malaysian Armed Forces.[1][3][5] His appointment to the post was seen as an aim to revive public trust in the military and uphold institutional credibility while navigating through a complex security landscape.[6] He also vowed to enforce a "total clean up" in the military and would not tolerate any forms of breaches in his leadership.[7]

Personal life

Malek Razak is married to Siti Juana binti Md Ibrahim and they have three children. He enjoys reading, playing sports and practicing a healthy lifestyle.

Honours

Honours of Malaysia

Foreign honours

References

  1. 1 2 "Jeneral Datuk Malek Razak Sulaiman dilantik Panglima Angkatan Tentera baharu". Berita Harian (in Malay). 31 January 2026. Retrieved 31 January 2026.
  2. ↑ Nordin, Khaled (31 January 2026). "Malek Razak appointed as New Chief of Defence Force". BERNAMA.
  3. 1 2 Reporters, FMT (31 January 2026). "Malek Razak takes over as armed forces chief". Free Malaysia Today.
  4. ↑ TMR, Zukri (31 January 2026). "Malek Razak appointed as new Chief of Defence Force". The Malaysian Reserve.
  5. 1 2 BERNAMA, Berita (31 January 2026). "Army Western Field Commander Malek Razak is new Malaysian Armed Forces chief". Malay Mail.
  6. 1 2 "Jen Malek Razak officially appointed 24th new Armed Forces chief". The Star. 3 February 2026.
  7. ↑ "Malaysia's new armed forces chief promises 'total clean-up' of military". The Straits Times. 4 February 2026.
  8. ↑ "Senarai Penerima Panglima Mangku Negara Tahun 2026" (PDF). www.istiadat.gov.my.
  9. ↑ Bernama (1 June 2026). "Chief Justice receives 'Tun' title, tops King's birthday honours list". New Straits Times. Retrieved 1 June 2026.
  10. ↑ M Ifzuddin Ikhsan (5 July 2026). "Panglima ATM, Ketua Polis Negara dahului senarai penerima pingat Sultan Kedah" (in Malay). Berita Harian. Retrieved 5 July 2026.
  11. ↑ "Senarai Darjah Kehormatan Sempena Ulang Tahun Hari Keputeraan Kebawah Duli Yang Maha Mulia Tuanku Sultan Negeri Kedah Darul Aman Tahun 2014" (PDF). Warta Kerajaan Negeri Kedah Darul Aman (in Malay). 8 May 2014.
  12. ↑ "Senarai Darjah Kehormatan Sempena Ulang Tahun Hari Keputeraan Kebawah Duli Yang Maha Mulia Tuanku Sultan Negeri Kedah Darul Aman Tahun 2003" (PDF). Warta Kerajaan Negeri Kedah Darul Aman (in Malay). 3 July 2003.
  13. ↑ "Raja Muda leads award recipients in conjunction with Perlis ruler's 83rd birthday". The Star. 17 May 2026.
  14. ↑ "Raja Muda Perlis Dahului Penerima Darjah Kebesaran Sempena Ulang Tahun Keputeraan Raja Perlis" (in Malay). Bernama. 17 May 2026.
  15. ↑ "Senarai Penerima Darjah Kebesaran, Bintang dan Pingat Sabah Tahun 2023" (PDF). www.sabah.gov.my.
  16. ↑ Olivia Miwil (6 October 2023). "Former IGP Acryl tops list of 1,209 Sabah State Award honourees". New Straits Times. Retrieved 29 September 2024.
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