KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 4 — New Chief of Defence Force Datuk Malek Razak Sulaiman vowed to perform a “total cleanup” of the Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF), especially involving issues of governance, integrity, procurement and financial management.
He said the MAF will not compromise on any breach of governance principles involving human resource management, development planning, finance and procurement.
“I, along with all three service branches — navy, army and air force — promise we are going to do a total cleanup,” he said at a press conference after the welcome ceremony for him as 24th Chief of Defence Force at Wisma Pertahanan here today.
Malek Razak said he was granted an audience with His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia, this morning, and received several important royal orders that require immediate attention, including leadership by example, integrity in service, management and governance.
“His Majesty decreed that discipline must be upheld as the main pillar safeguarding the security and sovereignty of the nation,” he said.
His Majesty also emphasised the welfare of personnel and the need to preserve and restore the morale of MAF personnel affected by recent developments.
Commenting on current issues that have raised public concern, Malek Razak said the MAF is aware of public anxiety, noting that the people are among the key stakeholders in national security.
“We acknowledge and understand the concerns of the people. What has happened is a wake-up call for MAF management, particularly in matters involving governance, integrity, procurement, development and financial management,” he said.
He added that initial actions had been taken by the Defence Ministry over the past month and that the improvement process will continue comprehensively.
“Thank God, there is wisdom in what has happened. It teaches us to reflect and reassess, whether as individuals or as an organisation, so we become more stable and better prepared,” he said.
According to him, the MAF is a resilient organisation capable of bouncing back from any setbacks.
“This is the bounce-back time. We will manage what has happened and move ahead,” he said, adding that he will outline a detailed mandate and action plan in the near future to address the issues and move forward.
“How we move forward as a main force that is reliable and a pillar of trust for the people,” he said.
He also described the post of Chief of Defence Force as a great trust, especially under the current challenging circumstances.
“Being Chief of Defence Force is not an easy job, especially now, but with the present government, the nation’s top leadership, the Defence Minister and the entire defence community, we will restore public confidence in the Malaysian Armed Forces,” he added.
Recently, several senior MAF officers have been charged in court with corruption, abuse of power, and criminal breach of trust.
