Raja Mohamed Affandi

In this Malay name, there is no surname or family name. The name Raja Mohamad Nor is a patronymic, and the person should be referred to by their given name, Raja Mohamad Affandi. The word "bin" or "binti"/"binte" means 'son of' or 'daughter of', respectively.

Raja Mohamed Affandi bin Raja Mohamed Noor (Jawi: راج محمد أفندي بن راج محمد نور; born 22 June 1958) is a Malaysian senior military officer, former Chief of Army and Chief of Defence Force.^[1][2]

Yang Mulia General (Rtd) Tan Sri Dato Paduka Seri Raja Mohamed Affandi Raja Mohamed Noor PGAT PMN PSM PJN SSAP SPMT SPMP SPMS SPTS SPMK SPKK DPPN DCSM PSAT DGMK DSDK DSAP DMPN PAT JSM SMZ KAT KMN PNBB DPKT DUBC
راج محمد أفندي‎
General Affandi in 2014
19th Chief of Defence Forces
In office 16 December 2016 – 19 June 2018
Monarchs	Abdul Halim Muhammad V
Prime Minister	Najib Razak Mahathir Mohamad
Minister of Defence	Hishammuddin Hussein Mohamad Sabu
Preceded by	Zulkifeli Mohd Zin
Succeeded by	Zulkifli Zainal Abidin
25th Chief of Army
In office 15 June 2013 – 16 December 2016
Preceded by	Zulkifli Zainal Abidin
Succeeded by	Zulkiple Kassim
Personal details
Born	Raja Mohamed Affandi bin Raja Mohamed Noor (1958-06-22) 22 June 1958 (age 66) Besut, Terengganu, Federation of Malaya
Nationality	Malaysia
Spouse	Norlida Abdul Mubin
Children	4
Education	MDef Studies MSc Strat and Def Studies
Alma mater	Royal Military College University of New South Wales Quaid-i-Azam University
Occupation	Senior military officer
Civilian awards	Commander of the Order of the Defender of the Realm (PMN)
Military service
Allegiance	Malaysia Yang di-Pertuan Agong
Branch/service	Malaysian Army
Years of service	1977–2018
Rank	General
Unit	Royal Malay Regiment
Commands	Army Basic Training Centre 18th Battalion, Royal Malay Regiment 3rd Division HQ Army Planning & Development HQ 2nd Division Malaysian Armed Forces HQ
Battles/wars	Second Malayan Emergency
Military awards	Courageous Commander of the Order of Military Service (PGAT)
Service number	411967

Early life and education

Raja Mohamed Affandi was born into a descendant of royal families perak (hence prefix Yang Mulia ('His Highness') instead of Yang Berbahagia ('The Honorable') on 22 June 1958 at Kampung Raja, Besut, Terengganu.^[3]

He received his primary education at Sekolah Kg Raja, Besut, and secondary education at Sekolah Menengah Sultan Ismail. He later attends Pre-Officer Cadet Training Unit (Pre-OCTU) at Sebatang Karah Camp, Port Dickson before continues his training as Cadet Officer at Royal Military College, Sungai Besi. He was commissioned as Second Lieutenant (Malay: Leftenan Muda) on 11 May 1977 and assigned to the Royal Malay Regiment.^[1]

He continues his study while he is still in the service. He obtains Master in Defence Studies from University of New South Wales and Master of Science in Defence and Strategic Studies from Quaid-i-Azam University.^[1]

Military career

General Tan Sri Raja Mohamed Affandi was directly involved in the Second Malayan Emergency during his early days as an army officer. He led his unit as platoon commander and later as company commander fighting with communist insurgents. He then became Aide-de-camp to Deputy Chief of Army, Lead Instructor at Army Basic Training Centre (Malay: Pusat Latihan Asas Tentera Darat — PUSASDA), Commander of 18th Battalion, Royal Malay Regiment (18 RAMD), Staff Officer 1 at National Operations Council (now National Security Council), Administration Staff Officer 1 at Army Human Resources Branch, chief-of-staff at 3rd Division Headquarters, assistant chief-of-staff at Army Planning and Development and Commander of 2nd Division.^[1]

He was promoted to Lieutenant General on 2 June 2008 and entrusted to hold Army Field Commander (Malay: Panglima Medan Tentera Darat) position. On 31 October 2009, he was assigned to chief-of-staff of Malaysian Armed Forces (Malay: Ketua Staf Angkatan Tentera Malaysia) post. He then promoted to rank general on 15 June 2013, and in the same time promoted to Chief of Army (Malay: Panglima Tentera Darat — PTD) position.^[1]

With his vast experience in the military and administration, he was promoted to the 19th Chief of Defence Forces on 16 December 2016, replacing General Zulkifeli Mohd Zain who retired from the Armed Forces.^[2]

Retirement from Armed Forces

Raja Mohamed Affandi retired from armed forces on 20 June 2018. His position as Chief of Defence Forces is succeeded by General Tan Sri Zulkifli Zainal Abidin.^[4]

Raja Mohamed Affandi was named as BN's candidate for the Kemaman by-election.^[5] He lost by 37,220 votes.

Personal life

General Tan Sri Dato' Sri Raja Mohamed Affandi is married to Puan Sri Datin Sri Norlida binti Hj Abdul Mubin and together they had three daughters and one son.^[1]

Election results

Parliament of Malaysia

Year	Constituency	Candidate		Votes	Pct	Opponent(s)		Votes	Pct	Ballots cast	Majority	Turnout
2023	P040 Kemaman, Terengganu		Raja Mohamed Affandi Raja Mohamed Noor (BN)	27,798	29.94%		Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar (PAS)	64,998	70.06%	92,776	37,220	65.76%

Honours

Honours of Malaysia

•  Malaysia :
  • Officer of the Order of the Defender of the Realm (KMN) (2002)^[6]
  • Companion of the Order of Loyalty to the Crown of Malaysia (JSM) (2006)^[6]
  • Commander of the Order of Meritorious Service (PJN) – Datuk (2009)^[6]
  • Commander of the Order of Loyalty to the Crown of Malaysia (PSM) – Tan Sri (2014)^[6]
  • Commander of the Order of the Defender of the Realm (PMN) – Tan Sri (2017)^[6]
  • Malaysia Service Medal
  • Loyal Service Medal
  • General Service Medal
  • Golden Jubilee of the Grup Gerak Khas Medal - Gold Medal
• Malaysian Armed Forces
  • Officer of The Most Gallant Order of Military Service (KAT)
  • Warrior of The Most Gallant Order of Military Service (PAT)
  • Loyal Commander of The Most Gallant Order of Military Service (PSAT)
  • Courageous Commander of The Most Gallant Order of Military Service (PGAT)
•  Pahang :
  • Knight Companion of the Order of Sultan Ahmad Shah of Pahang (DSAP) – Dato' (2006)
  • Grand Knight of the Order of Sultan Ahmad Shah of Pahang (SSAP) – Dato' Sri (2013)
•  Penang :
  • Companion of the Order of the Defender of State (DMPN) – Dato' (2008)
  • Knight Commander of the Order of the Defender of State (DPPN) – Dato' Seri (2014)
•  Kedah :
  • Knight Commander of the Glorious Order of the Crown of Kedah (DGMK) – Dato' Wira (2009)
•  Kelantan :
  • Knight Grand Commander of the Order of the Noble Crown of Kelantan (SPKK) – Dato' (2009)
  • Knight Grand Commander of the Order of the Crown of Kelantan (SPMK) – Dato' (2014)
•  Terengganu :
  • Companion of the Order of Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin of Terengganu (SMZ) (2003)^[7]
  • Knight Grand Commander of the Order of the Crown of Terengganu (SPMT) – Dato' (2011)
•  Malacca :
  • Knight Commander of the Exalted Order of Malacca (DCSM) – Datuk Wira (2014)
•  Selangor :
  • Knight Grand Commander of the Order of the Crown of Selangor (SPMS) – Dato' Seri (2014)^[8]
•  Perak :
  • Knight Grand Commander of the Order of Taming Sari (SPTS) – Dato' Seri Panglima (2015)^[9]
•  Perlis :
  • Knight Grand Commander of the Order of the Crown of Perlis (SPMP) – Dato' Seri (2017)^[10]
•  Sabah :
  • Grand Commander of the Order of Kinabalu (SPDK) – Datuk Seri Panglima (2017)

Among of the federal, states and military awards that been bestowed to General Tan Sri Raja Mohamed Affandi including PGAT PMN PSM PJN SSAP SPMT SPMP SPMS SPTS SPMK SPKK DPPN DCSM PSAT DGMK DSDK DSAP DMPN PAT JSM SMZ KAT KMN PNBB.^[1]

Foreign honours

•  Singapore:
  • Distinguished Service Order (Military) – Darjah Utama Bakti Cemerlang (Tentera) – (DUBC) (20 March 2018)^[11]
•  Brunei:
  • The Most Exalted Order of Paduka Keberanian Laila Terbilang First Class (DPKT) – Dato Paduka Seri (15 July 2017)^[12][13]
•  United Nations
  • Overseas Service with the UN Missions Medal with "MOZAMBIQUE" bar

References

1. "Profil Panglima Angkatan Tentera". Malaysian Armed Forces HQ (MAFHQ) Portal (in Malay). 6 October 2017. Retrieved 2018-05-07.
2. Md. Yusof, Mohd. Azraie (22 June 2016). "Raja Mohamed Affandi Panglima ATM baharu". Utusan Malaysia (in Malay).
3. Saat, Abdullah Sidek (22 April 2012). "Sejarah Negara Besut". Falahiah (in Malay).
4. "Majlis Serah Terima Tugas Panglima Angkatan Tentera Malaysia (PAT), Antara YM Jen Tan Sri Raja Mohamed Affandi Raja Mohamed Noor dan Jen Tan Sri Dato' Seri Zulkifli Zainal Abidin". Ministry of Defence Malaysia (in Malay). 20 June 2018.
5. "Raja Mohamed Affandi is BN's direct candidate for Kemaman by-election". www.nst.com.my.
6. "Semakan Penerima Darjah Kebesaran, Bintang dan Pingat".
7. Terengganu Sultan honours father in law and 86 others. New Straits Times. 20 July 2003.
8. "Sultan Perak dahului 102 penerima darjah, bintang kebesaran Selangor". unknown. Berita Harian. 1 December 2014. Retrieved 1 May 2021.
9. "Zahid ketuai 39 penerima darjah". Wan Asrudi Wan Hasan. Harian Metro. 27 November 2015. Retrieved 1 May 2021.
10. "KSN dahului senarai penerima darjah dan pingat". Muhammad Mustakim Ramli. Berita Harian. 17 May 2017. Retrieved 1 May 2021.
11. "Top Military Award Conferred on Chief of the Malaysian Armed Forces".
12. "Brunei 35 honoured with state decorations, titles". Asia News Network. 17 July 2017. Retrieved 23 June 2018.
13. "Seramai 35 orang menerima Bintang Kebesaran NBD" (PDF). www.pelitabrunei.gov.bn (in Malay). 2017-07-17. p. 11. Retrieved 2024-06-07.