Ahmad Hasbullah is new Army chief

Gen Ahmad Hasbullah Mohd Nawawi flanked by his wife (right) and Defence Minister Mohamad Sabu during an official ceremony to appoint him as the new army chief. (Bernama pic)

KUALA LUMPUR: Gen Ahmad Hasbullah Mohd Nawawi was today named the new Army chief, taking over from Gen Zulkiple Kassim who is retiring.

The handover of duties was witnessed by Defence Minister Mohamad Sabu, his deputy Liew Chin Tong and Malaysian Armed Forces (ATM) chief Gen Zulkifli Zainal Abidin.

Hasbullah, 57, was promoted to Army Field Commander in 2009 before being appointed Army deputy chief in 2011.

Born in Kuala Kangsar, Perak, he was commissioned into the Royal Malay Regiment on Dec 11, 1981 and rose through the ranks thereafter. -FMT