DIPLOMACY
FORMER MALAYSIAN DEFENCE CHIEF CONFERRED HIGHEST MILITARY AWARD
20 Oct 2009
The former Chief of Defence Force of the Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF), General (GEN) Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Zainal, was conferred Singapore s highest military award, the Darjah Utama Bakti Cemerlang (Tentera) or the Distinguished Service Order (Military), by President S R Nathan in an investiture at the Istana on 20 Oct.
The award recognises GEN Abdul Aziz for his outstanding contributions in strengthening the defence ties between the MAF and the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF).
Under his leadership, both armed forces regularly engage in bilateral and multilateral activities such as Exercise Semangat Bersatu, Exercise Malapura and the Five Power Defence Arrangements exercises.
Mutual understanding between the personnel of both armed forces was also forged as they worked closely to enhance maritime security through the Malacca Straits Patrols.
Guests at the investiture included Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence Teo Chee Hean, Minister of State for Defence Associate Professor Koo Tsai Kee, Chief of Defence Force Lieutenant-General (LG) Desmond Kuek, as well as senior government officials and military officers from Singapore and Malaysia.
GEN Abdul Aziz, who is in Singapore from 19 to 21 Oct, called on Mr Teo and LG Kuek at the Ministry of Defence before the investiture.
The Distinguished Service Order (Military) was previously awarded to Prime Minister of Malaysia Dato' Sri Mohd Najib bin Tun Haji Abdul Razak in 1995, when he was then Minister of Defence.
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