KUALA LUMPUR (Bernama): Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah has expressed his condolences to the family of former Malaysian Armed Forces chief General (Rtd) Tan Sri Mohd Ghazali Che Mat.

       Mohd Ghazali died at the Tuanku Mizan Military Hospital on Wednesday (July 7). He was 90.

       Istana Negara, in a statement on its official Facebook, stated that His Majesty was saddened by Mohd Ghazali’s death and hoped that his family would be patient and resolute in facing this situation.

       “The Yang di-Pertuan Agong, as the supreme commander of the Malaysian Armed Forces, highly appreciates Mohd Ghazali’s service and sacrifices to the Armed Forces and the country.

       "His Majesty prays that his soul be showered with blessings by Allah SWT and placed with the righteous," it said.

       Mohd Ghazali, born on Dec 17, 1930 in Lenggong, Perak, joined the armed forces in 1953 after attending training at the Federation Military School in Port Dickson, Negri Sembilan.

       In 1954, Mohd Ghazali attended training at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in England for 18 months after six months at the Eaton Hall Cadet School.

       He was appointed army chief in 1984 and a year later became the eighth Chief of the Defence Forces, before retiring in 1987.

       Mohd Ghazali was a platoon chief when he was with the 2nd Battalion Royal Malay Regiment and was awarded the Panglima Gagah Berani award in 1958, making him among the earliest recipients of the award.

       After retiring, he was appointed chairman of Boustead Holdings Bhd and The New Straits Times Press (Malaysia) Berhad. – Bernama