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THE nation has bid farewell to one of its most distinguished military figures, General Tun Dr Mohamed Hashim Mohd Ali, who passed away today at the age of 90.
The late ninth Chief of Defence Forces is expected to be laid to rest with full military honours at the Raudatul Sakinah Cemetery in Sungai Besi following Isyak prayers today..
In a statement, the Malaysian Armed Forces (ATM) confirmed that his funeral will be conducted according to full ceremonial military traditions, including the activation of Operation Rampai, the highest form of honour for a fallen senior officer.
“Operation Rampai will be activated as a mark of the highest respect by the Armed Forces for the ninth Chief of Defence Forces,” ATM said.
Funeral prayers were held earlier at Masjid Khalid Al-Walid within the Ministry of Defence, attended by national leaders, senior military officials, and close associates, including Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin and current Chief of Defence Forces General Tan Sri Mohd Nizam Jaffar.
“The presence of national leaders, close friends and comrades reflects the profound respect for the late General’s lifelong service to the defence and sovereignty of the country,” ATM said.
Born in Ipoh in 1935, Mohamed Hashim trained at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in the United Kingdom before being commissioned into the Royal Malay Regiment (RAMD) in 1955.
His military service spanned nearly four decades, including appointments as Commander of Rajang Security Command (RASCOM), Commander of the 2nd Infantry Division and Chief of Army.
In 1987, he was appointed the ninth Chief of Defence Forces, a position he held until his retirement in 1992.
ATM noted that his leadership coincided with Malaysia’s strategic transition following the end of the communist insurgency, during which he played a critical role in modernising the armed forces and shifting its focus to conventional defence.
“He shifted ATM’s focus from internal operations to building modern conventional capabilities. His legacy includes strengthening military professionalism, improving training effectiveness, and preparing the Armed Forces for high-technology warfare,” the statement read.
His tenure also saw strengthened regional cooperation, particularly through the Five Power Defence Arrangements (FPDA) and ASEAN military collaboration, which helped elevate Malaysia’s defence profile internationally.
After leaving military service, Mohamed Hashim remained active in the corporate and education sectors.
His lifelong contributions to the nation were recognised in 2022 with the conferment of the Seri Setia Mahkota (SSM), Malaysia’s highest federal award, which carries the honorific ‘Tun’.
He was also known for his familial ties, as the younger brother of Tun Dr Siti Hasmah, wife of former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad. - October 1, 2025