Armed forces chief appointment on hold amid graft probe

Army chief Hafizuddeain Jantan’s appointment to be the next armed forces chief has been put on hold, despite the appointment having been decided at an Armed Forces Council meeting and receiving royal assent.

“He has been ordered to go on leave to allow authorities to investigate the allegations against him,” said Defence Minister Khaled Nordin in a statement today, without mentioning the nature of the allegations.

In the meantime, Khaled said Royal Malaysian Navy chief Zulhelmy Ithnain will be the acting armed forces chief, as previously announced.

The post of armed forces chief was vacated following the incumbent Nizam Jaffar’s mandatory retirement and the ongoing investigation against his successor, Hafizuddeain (above). Khaled previously said Nizam’s retirement is not related to the probe.

Hafizuddeain was originally slated to take over Nizam’s post beginning Jan 1. The decision was made during an Armed Forces Council meeting on Nov 19, and received royal assent on Dec 1.

On Dec 27, however, Hafizuddeain was ordered to go on leave to allow an investigation to take place.

The order came amid an MACC investigation into several army projects since 2023, following complaints by Bersatu member Badrul Hisham Shaharin.

Anonymous documents, accounts seized

Badrul, better known as Chegubard, alleged that a forensic review of documents he received anonymously showed monthly transactions amounting to tens of thousands of ringgit credited to the accounts of a senior army officer and family members.

MACC chief commissioner Azam Baki said on Monday that the commission has seized six bank accounts owned by the suspect, and also conducted searches on several companies believed to be involved.

Meanwhile, Khaled also announced that the Armed Forces Headquarters chief of staff, Azhan Othman, has been appointed as the new army chief, effective tomorrow.

“This appointment is believed to be able to strengthen the Malaysian Army’s leadership and increase the operational capability of the Armed Forces in meeting current and future national defence needs,” he said.

Army senior officer probe: MACC seizes 6 bank accounts

Army chief put on leave pending corruption probe

MACC investigates army projects since 2023