KUALA LUMPUR: Leftenan Jeneral Datuk Azhan Md Othman has been appointed as the 31st Army Chief, effective Jan 1, 2026. Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin said Azhan, previously Chief of Staff at the Armed Forces headquarters, was appointed following the 631st Armed Forces Council meeting on Nov 19 and with the consent of His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia, on Dec 1. Meanwhile, the implementation of the Council’s decision to appoint Jeneral Tan Sri Muhammad Hafizuddeain Jantan as Armed Forces Chief has been postponed. In the interim, the duties of Armed Forces Chief will be carried out by Admiral Tan Sri Zulhelmy Ithnain, the Navy Chief, as announced on Dec 27. Mohamed Khaled stressed that all measures are aimed at upholding the rule of law and preserving the integrity of the Armed Forces while ensuring the nation’s sovereignty is effectively protected.

Source: The Star December 31, 2025 15:00 UTC