Retirement of forces chief, intel head not linked to MACC probe, says Khaled

Defence minister Khaled Nordin said armed forces chief Nizam Jaffar and MDIO director-general Razali Alias will be turning 60 in 2026. (Bernama pic)

PETALING JAYA: The impending retirement of armed forces chief Nizam Jaffar and Malaysian Defence Intelligence Organisation director-general Razali Alias is not connected to an Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission probe, said defence minister Khaled Nordin.

“It has nothing to do with the investigations,” Khaled told Bernama today.

He said the two generals were due for mandatory retirement on reaching the age of 60 next year.

He was asked about a report by a news portal linking their retirement to the arrest of 10 individuals, including military officers, suspected of being involved in a drug-smuggling case in August.

Citing a source, Bernama reported that Nizam is scheduled to go on leave on Jan 1 before his mandatory retirement in August, while Razali will retire in December next year.

Nizam became the 23rd armed forces chief on Jan 31. He previously served as commandant of the National Defence College, training management director of the Malaysian Army Training and Doctrine Command, and commander of the 2nd Infantry Brigade.

Razali was appointed director-general of the MDIO on Dec 1, 2023.

In August, MACC detained five senior army and navy officers, including two from MDIO, allegedly involved in a drug distribution syndicate.

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim had expressed concern that the case could pose national security risks.

MACC said the suspected officers, stationed at the country’s southern borders, are believed to have leaked information on security and enforcement agency operations over the past five years.

The suspects, who included lieutenant-colonels, had facilitated the entry of contraband worth about RM5 million a month from neighbouring countries, MACC said.

Last month, two officers claimed trial to charges of accepting a total of RM126,500 in bribes. The name of one officer was withheld by the court as he was involved in intelligence work.