Malaysia bids farewell to General Tun Dr. Mohamed Hashim Mohd Ali (retired), the ninth Chief of Defence Forces, who passed away at 88 and was laid to rest with full military honour. Al-Fatihah.
By Phubieyas Ahmad
KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 1 – Malaysia today bade farewell to General Tun Dr. Mohamed Hashim Mohd Ali (retired), the nation’s ninth Chief of Defence Forces, who passed away at the age of 88. He died at 11.52am at Gleneagles Hospital, Kuala Lumpur.
In a statement, the Malaysian Armed Forces( (ATM) described his passing as “a profound loss to ATM and the nation.”
Born in Ipoh on 10 April 1937, Tun Mohamed Hashim was the younger brother of Tun Dr Siti Hasmah, wife of former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
He was among the early Malaysians trained at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in the United Kingdom.
Commissioned into the Royal Malay Regiment in 1955, he quickly rose through the ranks, holding key commands including Commander of RASCOMM, Commander of the 2nd Division, and Chief of Army, before becoming the ninth Chief of Defence Forces from 1987 to 1992.
His tenure marked a turning point in Malaysia’s defence posture. With the communist insurgency over, he redirected the Armed Forces’ focus towards building modern conventional strength.
Under his leadership, ATM deepened its professionalism, intensified training regimes, and prepared for the challenges of high-technology warfare. He also strengthened regional defence diplomacy through the Five Power Defence Arrangements (FPDA) and ASEAN, positioning Malaysia as a credible player on the international stage.
After retiring from service in 1992, Tun Mohamed Hashim continued contributing to national life, including in the corporate sector as Chairman of Bumiputra-Commerce Holdings Berhad. In recognition of his service and stature, he was conferred the Darjah Seri Setia Mahkota (SSM), which carries the title Tun, in 2022.
Today, his final journey was marked with the Armed Forces’ highest ceremonial honours under Operasi Rampai. His remains were taken to Masjid Khalid Al-Walid, Kementah, for funeral prayers before burial at Raudhatul Sakinah Cemetery, Sungai Besi, after Isyak prayers.
Those who attended the farewell included Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin, Chief of Defence Forces General Tan Sri Mohd Nizam Jaffar, the service chiefs and former Chiefs of Defence Forces. Their presence, alongside comrades and close associates, reflected the deep respect accorded to a leader who bridged the nation’s path from conflict to stability.
Mindef, in its tribute, said: “His passing is a great loss to the Malaysian Armed Forces and the country. May his soul be showered with mercy and placed among the righteous.”
- TNS NEWS