Yaacob Mohd Zain

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Yang Berbahagia General (Rtd) Tan Sri
Yaacob Mohd Zain
PGAT PMN PSM SPKK SPTS DPSK DPTS DSDK JMN KMN ADK PJK PKB KPK PPA PPM PJM PM
يعقوب محمد زين‎
Yaacob in 1992
10th Chief of Defence Forces
In office
11 April 1992 – 3 March 1993
MonarchAzlan Shah
Prime MinisterMahathir Mohamad
Najib Razak
Preceded byMohamed Hashim Mohd Ali
Succeeded byAbdul Rahman Abdul Hamid
11th Chief of Army
In office
6 October 1987 – 10 April 1992
Preceded byMohamed Hashim Mohd Ali
Succeeded byAbdul Rahman Abdul Hamid
Personal details
Born (1935-12-16) 16 December 1935
Kota Bharu, Kelantan, Unfederated Malay States
SpouseZainon Mohd Daud
Children2
Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst
Military service
Allegiance
Branch/service
Years of service
1955–1993
Rank General
UnitRoyal Malay Regiment
Battles/wars

Yaacob bin Mohd Zain (Jawi: يعقوب بن محمد زين‎; born 16 December 1935), was a Malaysian military officer who has served as the 10th chief of defence forces from April 1992 to March 1993.[1][2] Prior to his appointment, he previously served as the 11th chief of Malaysian Army from October 1987 to April 1992.[3][4]

Educational background

Yaacob get his education in Machang before he attended basic military course at Federation Military College, Port Dickson in March 1953.[5]

In mid-1954, he selected to undergo officer cadet course at the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst and he also attended various courses at multiple institutions, such as Australian Army Command and Staff College in 1968, the Royal College of Defence Studies in 1983 and at Harvard Business School in 1993.[6][7]

Military career

Early military career

Yacoob was commissioned to second lieutenant at 15 July 1955 and posted as platoon commander at 6th Battalion, Royal Malay Regiment.[5]

During his early military career, he served at multiple positions, such as training officer at the Federation Military College, commanding officer of 9th Battalion, Royal Malay Regiment in 1969 and defence attaché in Indonesia in 1975.[8]

Rise to flag rank

Yaacob got rank promotion to brigadier general and appointed as secretary of the National Security Council in 1976 before he transferred to the Ministry of Defence to be appointed as director of Department of Military Intelligence a year later.[9]

From 1980 to 1984, he led various positions, such as commander of 6th Infantry Brigade in 1980, commander of 3rd Infantry Division in 1981, Assistant Chief of Staff of Operations of the Malaysian Armed Forces Headquarters in 1982 and commander of 2nd Infantry Division in 1984.[8]

In October 1985, he appointed as Deputy Chief of Malaysian Army and automatically got rank promotion to lieutenant general.[10]

Get top command

On 6 October 1987, he appointed as 11th Chief of Malaysian Army, following his predecessor Mohamed Hashim Mohd Ali who appointed as 9th Chief of Defence Forces and he automatically got rank promotion to general.[4]

On 12 February 1992, the Minister of Defence at the time, Najib Razak announced that Yaacob would be the 10th Chief of Defence Forces, following retirement of his predecessor, Mohamed Hashim Mohd Ali on 10 April in the same year.[6] Yaacob officially took over the post on 11 April 1992.[1]

He held until ended his military service extension on 4 March 1993 and he passed the baton to his successor, Abdul Rahman Abdul Hamid on the same day.[2]

Personal life

Yaacob was married Zainon binti Mohd Daud and had two children with her.[8]

Honours

Honours of Malaysia

Foreign honours

References

  1. "Jen Hashim hands over command". New Straits Times. 11 April 1992. p. 4.
  2. "A ceremonial farewell for retiring Armed Forces chief". New Straits Times. 12 March 1993. p. 4.
  3. "Senarai Panglima Tentera Darat". Official Website of the Malaysian Army (in Malay). Retrieved 29 July 2025.
  4. "Hashim takes over as No. 1 from Ghazali". New Straits Times. 6 September 1987. p. 1.
  5. "Kepimpinan". www.army.mod.gov.my. Archived from the original on 12 June 2004.
  6. "Gen Yaacob named Malaysian Chief of Defence Forces". The Straits Times. 13 February 1992. p. 2.
  7. "Newsletter" (PDF). hbscam.org. Harvard Business School Alumni Club of Malaysia. September 1993.
  8. "A frontline soldier's general". The Straits Times. 6 September 1992. p. 3.
  9. "M'sia umumkan naik pangkat tiga pegawai kanan tentera". Berita Harian (in Malay). 1 January 1977. p. 3.
  10. Sabry Sharif (20 September 1985). "Major Armed Forces reshuffle soon". New Straits Times. p. 1.
  11. "Senarai Penerima Darjah Kebesaran, Bintang dan Pingat Persekutuan Tahun 1992" (PDF). www.istiadat.gov.my.
  12. "Raja Mohar to get Tun award". New Straits Times. 6 June 1992. p. 1.
  13. "Senarai Penerima Darjah Kebesaran, Bintang dan Pingat Persekutuan Tahun 1988" (PDF). www.istiadat.gov.my.
  14. "Forces Chief, six others top awards list: King's honours for 224". New Sunday Times. 27 November 1988. p. 7.
  15. "Senarai Penerima Darjah Kebesaran, Bintang dan Pingat Persekutuan Tahun 1980" (PDF). www.istiadat.gov.my.
  16. "Senarai Penerima Darjah Kebesaran, Bintang dan Pingat Persekutuan Tahun 1973" (PDF). www.istiadat.gov.my.
  17. "Senarai Penerima Darjah Kebesaran, Bintang dan Pingat Persekutuan Tahun 1972" (PDF). www.istiadat.gov.my.
  18. "Semakan Penerima Darjah Kebesaran Bintang Dan Pingat". www.istiadat.gov.my.
  19. "4 Indons, 2 Thais Among 173 Conferred Awards". New Straits Times. 16 September 1988.
  20. "Kedah MB heads birthday honours list". New Straits Times. 25 January 1987. p. 3.
  21. "Pengurniaan Darjah Kebesaran Bergelar Bagi Tahun 1988 Mengikut Negeri" (PDF). Prime Minister's Department (Malaysia). Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 June 2014. Retrieved 16 March 2024.
  22. "Sultan honours 277". New Straits Times. 30 March 1988. p. 8.
  23. "Pengurniaan Darjah Kebesaran Bergelar Bagi Tahun 1990 Mengikut Negeri" (PDF). Prime Minister's Department (Malaysia). Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 June 2014. Retrieved 16 March 2024.
  24. "Pengurniaan Darjah Kebesaran Bergelar Bagi Tahun 1986 Mengikut Negeri" (PDF). Prime Minister's Department (Malaysia). Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 June 2014. Retrieved 16 March 2024.
  25. "Indon award". New Straits Times. 16 December 1988. p. 7.