SHAH ALAM: RMN’s first submarine commanding officer, Admiral Zulhelmy Ithnain, 56, has been appointed as the service’s 19th chief today. Defence Minister DS Khaled Nordin announced the appointment on Twitter or X this afternoon.
Setinggi-tinggi tahniah kepada Laksamana Datuk Zulhelmy bin Ithnain, Panglima Tentera Laut baharu yang menggantikan Laksamana Tan Sri Abdul Rahman bin Ayob yang akan bersara pada 2 Disember 2024.
Laksamana Datuk Zulhelmy merupakan pemegang Ijazah Sarjana National Security… pic.twitter.com/dFziG8XEgB
— Khaled Nordin 🇲🇾 (@KhaledNordin) September 23, 2024
Zulhelmy was also promoted to a four star as he was still a Vice-Admiral when he was appointed as the acting chief on August 1. Zulhelmy was the first commander of KD Tunku Abdul Rahman, the country’s first operational submarine. He was at the helm when the submarine return to Malaysia from France in 2009.
Zulhelmy biodata:
Laksamana Datuk Zulhelmy dilahirkan pada 2 Jan 1968 di Dato’ Keramat, Kuala Lumpur. Beliau telah menerima pendidikan menengah di Maktab Tentera Diraja bermula pada tahun 1981 hingga tahun 1985 dan memulakan karier dalam perkhidmatan TLDM dengan mengikuti latihan sebagai Pegawai Kadet pada tahun 1986 seterusnya ditauliahkan sebagai Leftenan Muda dalam cawangan Eksekutif dua tahun kemudian.
Kerjaya beliau sebagai seorang Submariner bermula pada tahun 1993 apabila memperolehi lencana kepakaran kapal selam setelah menamatkan latihan kapal selam di HMAS Platypus, Australia. Laksamana Datuk Zulhelmy seterusnya telah menamatkan Kursus Kapal Selam di Brest, Perancis dan dianugerahkan Sijil Kelayakan Pegawai Memerintah Kapal Selam jenis Agosta. Sejarah turut tercipta apabila beliau berjaya membawa pulang Kapal Selam Pertama Malaysia KD TUNKU ABDUL RAHMAN dari Perancis yang mengambil masa 2 bulan.
Antara jawatan penting yang pernah disandang beliau sepanjang perkhidmatan adalah Panglima Angkatan Kapal Selam, Asisten Ketua Staf Pembangunan (J5) Markas Angkatan Bersama, Asisten Ketua Staf Perancangan dan Pembangunan Markas Tentera Laut, Panglima Wilayah Laut 1, Presiden Pusat Pengajian Pertahanan Nasional (PUSPAHANAS), Timbalan Panglima Tentera Laut seterusnya memegang jawatan Pemangku Panglima Tentera Laut pada 1 Ogos 2024.
Laksamana Datuk Zulhelmy merupakan pemegang Ijazah Sarjana National Security Administration yang mana beliau turut menerima The Outstanding Alumni Award dari National Defence College of the Philippines. Beliau juga merupakan alumni United States Naval War College, Rhode Island dan Royal College of Defence Studies, United Kingdom.
Meanwhile, the newly appointed secretary-general Lokman Hakim Ali reported for duty at the Defence Ministry today. He was accorded the usual courtesy for an incoming secretary-general with an honour guard.
— Malaysian Defence
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Congratulations to the new panglima!
I assume all the previous behind the scenes maneuvering for the position has ended?
yup
If we keep doing this seniority based rank and file succession plan, we get quite elderly people heading the services for maybe max 5 years. Not much change can be done given our small budget.
Down south with their bigger budget they seem to appoint bright young leader in their 40s as chiefs. Thus a better succession planning and better strategic planning. Not just a final post to earn a higher pension.
If all the ”behind the scenes maneuvering for the position” had not ended; he would have been retired with someone else assuming the position. Ultimately; the politics aside; someone had to sign off/agree on it. He had the final say.