Mohd Zahidi Zainuddin

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Yang Amat Berbahagia
Orang Kaya Bendahara Seri Maharaja
General (Rtd) Tan Sri Dato' Seri Diraja
Mohd Zahidi Zainuddin
PGAT PMN PSM SPMK SPMS SPSA SPMP SPKK DSA SSAP SIMP SSMZ SPTS PNBS DHMS DPTS PAT JSD PMP KAT AMN AMK PPA PNBB PJM DPKT PCh
محمد زاهدي زين الدين‎
14th Chief of Defence Forces
In office
1 January 1999 – 28 April 2005
Monarchs
Prime Minister
Preceded byIsmail Omar
Succeeded byMohd Anwar Mohd Nor
17th Chief of Army
In office
1 January 1998 – 31 December 1998
Preceded byIsmail Hassan
Succeeded byMd Hashim Hussein
Personal details
Born (1948-04-30) 30 April 1948
Sayong, Kuala Kangsar, Perak, Federation of Malaya
SpouseRasiah Md Nor
Children3
Military service
Allegiance Malaysia
Branch/service Malaysian Army
Years of service
1968–2005
Rank General
UnitRoyal Malay Regiment
Battles/warsSecond Malayan Emergency

Mohd Zahidi Zainuddin (Jawi: محمد زاهدي بن حاج زين الدين‎; born 30 April 1948), is a Malaysian retired military officer who served as the 14th chief of Defence Forces from January 1999 to April 2005.[1][2] Prior to his appointment, he previously served as the 17th Chief of the Malaysian Army from January 1998 to December 1998.[3][4]

Educational background

Zahidi graduated Master of Science in Defence and Strategic Studies from Quaid-i-Azam University, Pakistan.[5]

He also attended various courses at multiple institutions, such as General Staff College, Philippines, the Joint Services Staff College, Australia, the National Defence College, Pakistan in 1995 and Senior Executive Programme at Harvard Business School in 2006.[6]

Military career

Early military career

Zahidi undergo officer cadet course at Royal Military College, Kuala Lumpur in 1966, then he commissioned to junior lieutenant in April 1968 and posted as platoon commander in 13th Battalion, Royal Malay Regiment.[7]

Along his early military career, he posted at multiple assignment, such as company commander in 9th Battalion, Royal Malay Regiment, commanding officer of the 24th Battalion, Royal Malay Regiment in 1983 and deputy commander of Royal Military College.[7]

In August 1988, he assigned to lead the Malaysian military observer team for United Nations Iran–Iraq Military Observer Group for six months and the assignment completed in February 1989.[8][9]

Several months after his assignment was completed, he selected to be aide-de-camp for 9th Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Sultan Azlan Shah.[7]

Rise to flag rank and get top command

After his assignment as aide-de-camp ended in April 1994, Zahidi got rank promotion to brigadier general and appointed as Commander of 11th Infantry Brigade. He held the position until he selected to undergo the course at National Defence College, Pakistan in the following year.[10]

He appointed as Commander of the Malaysian Army Training and Doctrine Command after he completed the course in late 1996, and then he appointed as Deputy Chief of the Malaysian Army in June 1997.[11]

On 1 January 1998, Zahidi appointed as 17th Chief of the Malaysian Army, following retirement his predecessor Ismail Hassan and got rank promotion to general at the same time.[4]

In the following year, he took the baton of Chief of Defence Force from his predecessor, Ismail Omar following the end of Ismail's term extension one day earlier.[1][12]

Zahidi got two-years extension of his term before he passed the baton to his successor, Mohd Anwar Mohd Nor on 29 April 2005.[2]

Post military career

On 25 November 2006 Zahidi appointed as member of Dewan Negara of Perak and then he appointed as Orang Besar Empat of Perak with title "Orang Kaya Bendahara Seri Maharaja" in late April 2013, following death the titleholder Syed Zahiruddin on 20 April in the same year.[13]

In several corporations, he holds a number important positions including chairman of Affin Bank from 2017 to 2019 and chairman of the Armed Forces Fund Board from 2018 to 2021[6][14]

He is also the pro-chancellor of the Universiti Sultan Azlan Shah since December 2018.[5]

Personal life

Zahidi was married Rasiah binti Mohd Nor and had two sons and one daughter with her.[15]

Honours

Honours of Malaysia

Foreign honours

References

  1. "Zahidi takes over as new Armed Forces chief". New Straits Times. 17 December 1998. p. 12.
  2. "Malaysian armed forces a modern fighting unit". The Star. 26 April 2005. Retrieved 27 November 2024.
  3. "Senarai Panglima Tentera Darat". Official Website of the Malaysian Army (in Malay). Retrieved 29 July 2025.
  4. "New army chief for M'sia from Jan 1". The Business Times . 17 December 1997. p. 7.
  5. "Mohd Zahidi Zainuddin appointed USAS Pro-Chancellor". Bernama. 1 December 2018. Retrieved 29 September 2024.
  6. Ayisy Yusof (22 June 2017). "Affin Bank, Affin Islamic appoint new chairman". New Straits Times. Retrieved 29 September 2024.
  7. "Kepimpinan". Official Website of the Malaysian Army (in Malay). Archived from the original on 12 June 2004. Retrieved 9 September 2025.
  8. "Army team leaves to Baghdad". New Straits Times. 16 August 1988. p. 1.
  9. "It's so good to have dad back!". New Straits Times. 28 February 1989. p. 1.
  10. "Nation pays tribute to the warriors". New Straits Times. 1 August 1994. p. 4.
  11. "Zahidi appointed Army deputy chief". New Straits Times. 25 June 1997. p. 4.
  12. "New armed forces chief hopes to see greater transparency". New Straits Times. 1 January 1999. p. 10.
  13. Jalal Ali Abdul Rahim (26 April 2013). "Mohd Zahidi dilantik Orang Besar Empat Perak". Berita Harian (in Malay). p. 25.
  14. Ayisy Yusof (3 August 2021). "LTAT appoints Raja Mohamed Affandi as new chairman". New Straits Times. Retrieved 29 September 2024.
  15. Juhaidi Yean Abdullah (7 October 1988). "No easy life when daddy is far away". New Straits Times. p. 9.
  16. "Senarai Penuh Penerima Darjah Kebesaran, Bintang dan Pingat Persekutuan tahun 2001" (PDF). www.istiadat.gov.my.
  17. "Senarai Penerima Darjah Kebesaran, Bintang dan Pingat Persekutuan Tahun 2000" (PDF). www.istiadat.gov.my.
  18. Patrick Sennyah (5 June 1999). "Mohtar, Lamin head honours list". New Straits Times. p. 4.
  19. "Senarai Penuh Penerima Darjah Kebesaran, Bintang dan Pingat Persekutuan tahun 1993" (PDF) (in Malay).
  20. "Senarai Penerima Darjah Kebesaran, Bintang dan Pingat Persekutuan Tahun 1983" (PDF). www.istiadat.gov.my.
  21. "The recipients". New Straits Times. 1 June 1983. p. 5.
  22. "Pengurniaan Darjah Kebesaran Bergelar Bagi Tahun 2000 Mengikut Negeri" (PDF). Prime Minister's Department (Malaysia). Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 September 2014. Retrieved 1 August 2024.
  23. "Kedah Sultan calls for stop to mosque misuse". New Straits Times. 31 January 2000. p. 4.
  24. "Queen heads awards list". The Star. 31 March 2004. Retrieved 27 November 2024.
  25. "Semakan Penerima Darjah Kebesaran Bintang Dan Pingat". www.istiadat.gov.my.
  26. "Pahang royalty heads state honours list". The Star. 25 October 2003. Archived from the original on 29 June 2018. Retrieved 25 September 2018.
  27. "Pengurniaan Darjah Kebesaran Bergelar Bagi Tahun 1998 Mengikut Negeri" (PDF). Prime Minister's Department (Malaysia). Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 June 2014. Retrieved 16 March 2024.
  28. Ivan Loh (19 April 2014). "A total of 803 people in honours list at Sultan of Perak's 86th birthday". The Star. Retrieved 27 November 2024.
  29. "Senarai Nama-nama Penerima Darjah dan Bintang Kebesaran Serta Pingat-pingat Negeri Perak Darul Ridzuan Tahun 2009" (PDF) (in Malay). Warta Kerajaan Negeri Perak.
  30. "Perak Mufti and former IGP to receive DSA award". The Star. 3 February 2009. Archived from the original on 10 June 2021. Retrieved 27 November 2024.
  31. "Carian Rekod Penerima Darjah Kebesaran/Pingat Negeri Perak Darul Ridzuan". pingat.perak.gov.my.
  32. "Senarai Kehormatan Hari Keputeraan Duli Yang Maha Mulia Tuanku Raja Perlis Pada 2003" (PDF). Warta Kerajaan Negeri Perlis.
  33. Ian McIntyre (17 May 2003). "Perlis' highest award for forces chief". The Star. Archived from the original on 17 September 2021. Retrieved 27 November 2024.
  34. "Mahathir heads Sarawak honours list". The Star. 22 July 2003. Archived from the original on 13 October 2018. Retrieved 27 November 2024.
  35. "SPMS 2003". Retrieved 6 March 2018.
  36. "The Sultan of Selangor's Birthday Honours List". The Star. 13 December 2003. Archived from the original on 14 September 2018. Retrieved 27 November 2024.
  37. "PENGURNIAAN DARJAH KEBESARAN SEMPENA ULANG TAHUN YANG KE EMPAT PULUH SATU HARI KEPUTERAAN DULI YANG MAHA MULIA TUANKU AL SULTAN PADA 20 JULAI 2003" (PDF) (in Malay). Warta Kerajaan Negeri Terengganu.
  38. "Terengganu Sultan honours father in law and 86 others". New Straits Times. 20 July 2003. p. 8.
  39. "Armed forces chief gets Brunei award". New Sunday Times. 23 May 1999. p. 8.
  40. "Jeneral: Heist was planned for a long time". New Straits Times. 15 July 2000. p. 4.
  41. "Royal Thai Government Gazette" (PDF).