Azizan Ariffin

In this Malay name, there is no surname or family name. The name Ariffin is a patronymic, and the person should be referred to by their given name, Azizan. The word "bin" or "binti"/"binte" means 'son of' or 'daughter of', respectively.
Yang Berbahagia General (Rtd) Tan Sri Dato' Sri
Azizan Ariffin
PGAT PMN PSM DGPN PNBS SSAP SIMP SPTS DSDK DHMS JSD RMAF
Pallam Raju and General Azizan in 2009
17th Chief of Defence Forces
In office
1 September 2009 – 15 June 2011
MonarchMizan Zainal Abidin
Prime MinisterNajib Razak
Minister of DefenceAhmad Zahid Hamidi
Preceded byAbdul Aziz Zainal
Succeeded byZulkifeli Mohd. Zin
15th Chief of Air Force
In office
30 October 2006 – 31 August 2009
Preceded byNik Ismail Nik Mahmud RMAF
Succeeded byRodzali Daud RMAF
Personal details
Born
Azizan bin Ariffin

(1953-10-25) 25 October 1953 (age 71)
Yan, Kedah, Federation of Malaya (now Malaysia)
Nationality Malaysia
SpouseNoorainee Abd Rahim
Children5
Alma mater
OccupationBusinessman
Civilian awards Commander of the Order of the Defender of the Realm (PMN)
Military service
Allegiance Malaysia
Yang di-Pertuan Agong
Branch/service Royal Malaysian Air Force
Years of service1969–2011
Rank General
Unit
  • RMAF Air Traffic Control Branch
  • Taming Sari Team (RMAF Acrobatic Team)
Commands
  • RMAF VIP Squadron
  • Chief Instructor, Air Force Flying Academy
  • Advisor of Islamabad Defence, Pakistan
  • Commander (Training), Royal Malaysian Air Force Command
  • RMAF 2nd Air Division
  • Air Force College
  • Malaysian Armed Forces Academy
  • RMAF Air Operation
Military awards

Azizan bin Ariffin (b. October 25, 1953, in Yan) is the 17th and the former Chief of Defence Forces (Malay: Panglima Angkatan Tentera — PAT).[1] He is the first ever head of the Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF) appointed from the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF).[2]

Education

Azizan joined the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) on October 15, 1969.[3] He later finishes his training at Royal Military College on April 16, 1971 and commissioned as Pilot officer (Nato OF-1).[3]

After graduating, he was absorbed into Air Traffic Control (ATC) Branch and then was sent to Australia for basic and advance ATC course for two years. His first ever job in RMAF was as an ATC Officer at Kuala Lumpur RMAF Air Base.[3] He was later assigned to Paya Lebar Air Base, Singapore and then Kuantan RMAF Air Base, both as an ATC Officer.[2]

Azizan began his training as an aviator after being sent to Basic Aviation Course in Australia on April 15, 1976. He was given his pilot brevet on July 8, 1977.[3]

Military career

Azizan has had a prosperous air force aviator career. He has flown varieties of aircraft in RMAF arsenal including CT/4s, Aermacchi MB-326H, Bulldog B 100, Cessna 402B, BAe 125, Fokker F28, Pilatus PC-7, Falcon 900 and also C-130 Hercules.[4][2][1]

Among the task he has held include Squadron Leader in VIP Squadron and examiner, chief instructor and instructor at the RMAF Flying Academy. He also was a member of the RMAF Acrobatic Team — the Taming Sari Team.

Azizan was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel and began to work in command and staff related task at all three branches of the Malaysian Armed Forces. Among the important task he has held include as Defence Advisor for Islamabad, Pakistan, Director (Training) at the Air Force Command and Chief-of-staff for 2nd Air Division. Azizan then promoted to General officer in 1996 and given task as the Chief of 2nd Air Division.[5] He later appointed as Commandant for Air Force College and Malaysian Armed Force Academy (Malay: Akademi Angkatan Tentera Malaysia — ATMA) (now National Defence University of Malaysia — UPNM).[3][1]

Azizan then held position of Chief of Air Operation (Malay: Panglima Operasi Udara) and Deputy Chief of Air Force (Malay: Timbalan Panglima Tentera Udara) before appointed as the 15th Chief of Air Force (Malay: Panglima Tentera Udara — PTU) on 30 October 2006.

On 1 September 2009, Azizan making history by becoming the first Chief of Defence Forces from RMAF.[4] Azizan is the second non-army Chief of Defence Forces after Admiral Mohammad Anwar Mohd Nor.[4] The Chief of Defence Forces' position is usually dominated by the Malaysian Army.[4]

Retirement from Armed Forces

After almost 41 years service in Armed Forces, General Tan Sri Azizan finally retired on June 15, 2011. His position as Perintah Ulung was then succeeded by General Tan Sri Zulkifeli Mohd Zin.[3]

Later work

After retirement, General Tan Sri Azizan started being involved in business.[5]

Honours

National Honours

For his service to the country, General Tan Sri Azizan was awarded with multiple awards from the federal, states and military. Among the awards is Courageous Commander of the Order of Military Service (PGAT), Loyal Commander of the Order of Military Service (PSAT), Grand Knight of the Order of the Crown of Pahang (SIMP), Knight Companion of the Order of Sultan Ahmad Shah of Pahang (DSAP), Datuk Sri Panglima of the Order of Taming Sari (SPTS), Knight Commander of the Order of Loyalty to Sultan Abdul Halim Mu'adzam Shah (DHMS), Knight Companion of the Order of Loyalty to the Royal House of Kedah (DSDK), Grand Knight of the Order of Sultan Ahmad Shah of Pahang (SSAP), Commander of the Order of Loyalty to the Crown of Malaysia (PSM), Warrior of the Order of Military Service (PAT), Companion of the Order of the Defender of the Realm (JMN), Companion of the Order of Loyalty to the Royal Family of Malaysia (JSD) and Officer of the Order of Military Service (KAT).[2]

Foreign Honours

Personal life

General Tan Sri Azizan married Puan Sri Noorainee Abd Rahim. They have five children.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c d Yatim, Nizam (14 June 2011). "Jeneral Tan Sri Dato' Sri Zulkifeli Mohd. Zin dilantik secara rasmi sebagai Panglima Angkatan Tentera Malaysia (ATM)". bertiwi.blogspot.my (in Malay).
  2. ^ a b c d "Panglima ATM sekarang, Tan Sri Azizan Ariffin". IIUM ROTU Blog (in Malay). July 8, 2010.
  3. ^ a b c d e f Shaari, Syukri (15 June 2011). "ATM terus unggul, syabas Jeneral Azizan". Utusan Online (in Malay). Archived from the original on 7 May 2018. Retrieved 6 May 2018.
  4. ^ a b c d Abu Bakar, Raja Syahrir (29 August 2009). "Panglima Tentera Udara cipta sejarah". Utusan Online (in Malay). Archived from the original on 7 May 2018.
  5. ^ a b "Board of Directors". Kerjaya Sukses.
  6. ^ "Semakan Penerima Darjah Kebesaran, Bintang dan Pingat".
  7. ^ "Agong's birthday honours list". The Star. 7 June 2004. Retrieved 25 September 2018.
  8. ^ "Chief Sec Sidek heads King's honours list". The Star. 2 June 2007. Retrieved 25 September 2018.
  9. ^ "King's birthday honours list 2010". The Star. 6 June 2010. Retrieved 25 September 2018.
  10. ^ "Sultan of Pahang's 74th birthday honours list". The Star. 26 October 2004. Retrieved 25 September 2018.
  11. ^ "Abdullah heads awards list". The Star. 24 October 2006. Archived from the original on 15 September 2018. Retrieved 25 September 2018.
  12. ^ "Semakan Penerima Darjah Kebesaran, Bintang dan Pingat".
  13. ^ "2006 Sultan of Kedah honour's list". The Star. 24 January 2006. Retrieved 25 September 2018.
  14. ^ "Mt Everest climbers get Datukships". K. Suthakar. The Star. 10 July 2006. Retrieved 25 September 2018.
  15. ^ Hezlinawati Haji Abd. Karim (17 July 2010). "85 dikurniakan Bintang-Bintang Kebesaran" (PDF). Pelita Brunei (in Malay). p. 14. Retrieved 2024-12-15.
  16. ^ ประกาศสำนักนายกรัฐมนตรี เรื่อง พระราชทานเครื่องราชอิสริยาภรณ์ให้แก่ชาวต่างประเทศ [พลอากาศเอก ตัน สรี ดาโต๊ะ สรี อาซิสซาน บิน อาริฟฟิน] (PDF) (in Thai). Retrieved 24 October 2024.
  17. ^ Liputan6.com (2011-05-12). "Panglima TNI Terima Kunjungan PAT Malaysia". liputan6.com (in Indonesian). Retrieved 2023-04-13.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)