SHAH ALAM: The Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) deputy chief Admiral Abdul Rahman Ayob took over as the service’s 18th chief today replacing retiring Admiral TS Reza Sany. Prior to taking over the post, Rahman was promoted as admiral from the rank of vice-admiral.
Rahman, 59, is the first submariner to become RMN’s top sailor, according to the RMN. Unlike other flag officers in the RMN, Rahman chose to wear only the submariner badge (dolphin) on his uniform, though its likely he had also qualified as principal warfare officer (PWO). Like the pioneer batch of RMN submariners, Rahman obtained his submarine qualification overseas, in his case, Australia. His last posting as a ship driver was as the CO of KD Lekir from September 2, 2005 to September 12, 2007.
His biodata from RMN:
Laksamana Datuk Abdul Rahman Ayob dilahirkan pada 2 Dis 1964 di Johor Bahru, Johor. Beliau mula menyertai Tentera Laut Diraja Malaysia pada 2 Jul 1982 dan telah ditauliahkan sebagai Leftenan Muda TLDM Cawangan Eksekutif pada 13 Jun 1984. Beliau diperjawat sebagai Timbalan Panglima Tentera Laut yang Ke-21 mulai 1 Nov 19. Pencapaian tertinggi beliau di dalam akademi adalah Master of Arts (Strategic Studies) Canberra, Australia.
Kerjaya beliau sebagai seorang Submariner bermula pada tahun 1993 apabila beliau memperolehi lencana kepakaran kapal selam setelah menamatkan latihan kapal selam di HMAS PLATYPUS, Australia. Beliau seterusnya menjalani Latihan Pengenalan Kapal Selam di Sweden pada tahun 1995 dan di Perancis pada 1999 serta berjaya menamatkan Kursus Asas Kapal Selam (AGOSTA Class) pada tahun 2006 di Perancis.
Laksamana Datuk Abdul Rahman telah memegang beberapa jawatan penting di dalam Tentera Laut dan Misi PBB antaranya sebagai Komander Angkatan Kapal Selam TLDM, Timbalan Ketua Misi, Tim Pemantau Antarabangsa Mindanao Filipina, Panglima Wilayah Laut 2 dan Panglima Armada Timur.
Laksamana Datuk Abdul Rahman telah mendirikan rumahtangga bersama Datin Dr Norinah binti Mustapha dan dikurniakan 4 orang anak lelaki. Beliau amat meminati sukan tennis dan golf.
Earlier, in the morning, Abdul Rahman handed over the deputy chief post to Vice Admiral Sabri Zali, 56, who was formerly the Eastern Fleet Command commander. The Eastern Fleet command is now led by Vice-Admiral Muhammad Ruzelme Ahmad Fahimy. A PWO like his predecessors, Sabri had commanded the KD Jebat frigate before he was promoted to higher ranks. His full biodata as released by the RMN.
Laksamana Madya Datuk Sabri sebelum ini telah memegang jawatan Panglima Armada Timur sejak 24 Disember 2020. Beliau dilahirkan pada 4 Mac 1967 di Rawang, Selangor dan telah berkhidmat lebih 38 tahun. Laksamana Madya Datuk Sabri telah memasuki TLDM sebagai Pegawai Kadet pada 15 Disember 1984 dan telah dipilih untuk menjalani kursus Midshipman Antarabangsa di Jerman Barat selama tiga tahun sehingga Disember 1987. Beliau telah ditauliahkan pada 21 Disember 1987 setelah kembali dari Jerman.
Antara jawatan penting yang pernah disandang beliau adalah Pegawai Memerintah KD JEBAT merangkap Pegawai Kanan Armada, Asisten Ketua Staf Sumber Manusia di Markas Tentera Laut, Komandan Maktab Pertahanan Angkatan Tentera dan Panglima Wilayah Laut 2.
— Malaysian Defence
Will he be an independent thinking renegade and speaks his mind particularly on the defence budget cuts and the further delays to LCS completion and pending Govt decisions on others in the Plan?
Or will he play the long game, be a team player, then toe the Govt-political line and keep his mouth shut be damned whatever will happen and hopefully stay long enough not to be cold storaged or prematurely leaving & losing his pension, he might even get a second career as an MP someday too?
He got nothing to lose really as got just a year as chief, or another 12 months if they extend his contract
I’m sure your aware that a high ranking officer’s career doesn’t simply end when he retires. There’s a lot to go for post-retirement with favourable political patronage as you know, whatmore when he’s got only a year left to ingratiate himself with his new political masters.
“Will he be an independent thinking
renegade and speaks his mind”
He has to draw a fine line between being an ” be an independent thinking
renegade” and doing what’s best for the service. There will a time to speak out and a time to do things quietly.
“fully stay long enough not to be cold storaged or prematurely leaving & losing his”
He’s reached the pinnacle of his career; how can he be “cold storaged”?He’s also unlikely to be ” prematurely leaving & losing his pension” as we’ve never resorted to that. Bear in mind that for him to have been selected/approved for the position means he’s a team player of sorts.
Yes I am aware but since 2018 such positions are no longer that many. Only two now exists actually, one the LTAT chairman and recently the Cybersecurity Council chairman post. In the past, various opportunities were available including ambassadors and high commissioner.
With the prospect of a change in government every 5 years, not much advantage to suck up with the present. Might as well do what TS Reza did and fire away.
Not much he can do with just a tenure of one year.
LTAT is a large conglomerate, with many subsidiaries. Many opportunities there. There is also plenty of GLCs around to become their board of directors.
Then there are also opportunities at the multitudes of defence agents in malaysia, and private defence companies with strong backing (such as royals)
The more you know who, especially with the political leaders, the better your retirement chances is.
Not really, all GLC appointments are reported by the media. As for private companies, it is up to them really. Joe was hinting at government companies not private ones. As for agents, this is more for the ones that do not make it to the top of the ladder.
There are enough Board of Directors seats around. Most will prefer independent director role rather than be appointed to management (e.g. executive director). Then there are the “advisory” roles that will be available. This is common even within the corporate space. Nothing new. The ex generals and admirals wont be short of income. In addition to the director fees, they have their lifetime pensions. Its only whether they want it or not.
Am sure there’s plenty of QUANGOs CEO & directorships have opened now they have purged all BN/PN’s appointees recently. It doesn’t even have to relate with defence matters, even Felda seat could be his if so happens.
And even in the private sectors, he would need to have strong cable back to the ruling Govt if he is to be useful to any company/ies he joins.
And if he ever has a political slant, a friendly tie with the side having the rakyat’s favour will put him in good stead, even towards a MP or senatorship, as did some retired members became.
So he has more to lose NOT toeing the party line even if it could be unfavourable to the TLDM. As a savvy & I guess a team player as well, the scenario looks to be just that. To TLDM then, I would say good luck.