Their Majesties also expressed sadness over the passing of Ghazali and hoped that his family would be patient and remain strong in this time of grief.

“The Yang di-Pertuan Agong as the Supreme Commander of the Malaysian Armed Forces highly appreciates Ghazali’s services, deeds and contribution to the Armed Forces and the country,” according to Istana Negara’s statement posted on Facebook today.

Ghazali, 92, who was the 7th chief of defence force, died at the Cardiac Vascular Sentral, Kuala Lumpur Hospital.

According to the statement, Ghazali was born on Feb 4, 1929, in Johor Bahru and was selected and sent for cadet officer training at the Eaton Hall in England in the early years of his career in the Armed Forces.

From Eaton Hall, he was chosen to undergo military training at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst from 1952 to 1954, before being deployed to lead the 1st Battalion of the Royal Malay Regiment based in Alor Setar, Kedah.

As the head of the platoon, he led many combat operations against the communist insurgents in Sungai Siput, Bidor and Alor Setar.

Ghazali had also served as the military attache in Jakarta, Indonesia in 1958 and was the first and youngest Malaysian military attache ever sent to Indonesia.

In 1977, he was appointed as the Army chief and subsequently as the country’s 7th chief of defence force from 1982 to 1985.