New Malaysian Armed Forces Chief Pledges “Total Clean-Up” to Restore Integrity and Public Trust

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb. 4: Newly appointed Malaysian Armed Forces Chief General Datuk Malek Razak Sulaiman has vowed a “total clean-up” of the military, emphasizing that breaches in governance, human resources, finance, or procurement will not be tolerated.

Speaking to reporters on his first official day in office on Wednesday, Jen Malek-Razak described his appointment as both an honor and a heavy responsibility. “I stand here today to shoulder the responsibility of commanding all three services, the Army, Navy, and Air Force, under His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia, as the supreme commander of the Armed Forces,” he said.

The new chief said that recent controversies in the military served as a wake-up call. He promised to lead with integrity, uphold strict discipline, and safeguard the welfare and morale of personnel. “These are among the key matters that I will carry forward together with service chiefs as we fulfill our duty to protect the nation’s sovereignty,” he added.

Jen Malek Razak acknowledged public concern over recent issues in the Armed Forces, noting that the rakyat are the biggest stakeholders in national security. He also expressed appreciation to the defense ministry for outlining strategic priorities and immediate action plans to address the challenges.

When asked whether he had reservations about accepting the post amid recent controversies, he said, “Once the Armed Forces Council convened and Sultan Ibrahim consented to the appointment, it became a command and a trust. As a soldier, loyalty is paramount.”

Drawing on nearly four decades of military experience, the chief pledged to restore public confidence and ensure operational readiness. He noted that temporary restrictions on operational expenditures had affected logistics, personnel movements, and routine activities but said discussions at the highest level were ongoing to release critical funds.

“The military is resilient and will bounce back. We will move forward together, correct our weaknesses, and continue our journey towards building a future-ready Armed Forces that remains trusted by the people,” he said, promising to release a detailed action plan soon.