Zulkifli Zainal Abidin

Zulkifli Zainal Abidin (born 30 November 1960) is a Malaysian general who served as the 20th Chief of Defence Forces. He served as the Chief of Army from June 14, 2011 to June 13, 2013.

Yang Berbahagia General (Rtd) Tan Sri Dato' Seri Panglima Zulkifli Zainal Abidin PGAT PSM PJN DHMS SIMP SPTS DGPN PSAT DGMK DPTS AMK PAT JSM KMN
General Zulkifli in 2018
20th Chief of Defence Forces
In office 20 June 2018 – 1 January 2020
Prime Minister	Mahathir Mohamad
Preceded by	Raja Mohamed Affandi Raja Mohamed Noor
Succeeded by	Affendi Buang
24th Chief of Army
In office 14 June 2011 – 13 June 2013
Preceded by	Zulkifeli Mohd Zin
Succeeded by	Raja Mohamed Affandi Raja Mohamed Noor
Personal details
Born	(1960-11-30) 30 November 1960 Kuala Sepetang, Larut, Perak, Federation of Malaya
Nickname	Zul White
Military service
Allegiance	Malaysia
Branch/service	Malaysian Army
Years of service	1978-2020
Rank	General
Unit	Royal Malay Regiment
Commands	Chief of Defence Forces Chief of Army Senior Staff Officer to the Chief of Defence Force
Battles/wars	Communist insurgency in Malaysia (1968–89)
Service number	T3000599

Life and military service background

He was born in Kuala Sepetang, Perak, Malaysia on November 30, 1960.

He was commissioned in the Royal Malay Regiment as a Second Lieutenant in 1978, and ever since, held various commands in the Army and Armed Forces, including as the Senior Staff Officer to the Chief of Defence Force in 2001, and Vice Chancellor of the National Defence University of Malaysia from September 2008 to May 2010.

He also attended various courses such as the Senior Development Programme at the John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, in Cambridge, Massachusetts, holds a Master in Management from the Asian Institute of Management at Makati, Philippines, obtained an Advanced Diploma in Business and Management (Distinction) from Swansea University, University of Wales, and a diploma from the Royal College of Defence Studies (Imperial Defence College) in London. He is also an Adjunct Professor to the Centre of Business Innovation and Technopreneurship, in the Universiti Malaysia Perlis since 2010, and appointed as Professor (Profesor Ikhtisas) by the National Defence University of Malaysia in 2017.

He was involved in the Communist insurgency, and served as a senior instructor at the Army Training Group and Senior Instructor at the New Zealand Army Infantry school of the New Zealand Army from 1986 to 1988, training the New Zealand Army and other Commonwealth armies in training weapons, tactics and counter insurgency warfare. He was also the Commandant of the Army Recruit Training Centre from 2002 to 2004, and was appointed as the Chief of the Malaysian Army from June 2011 to June 2013.

His interests include reading about Management (Defence, Training and Human Resources Management), Defence and Security Studies (Total Defence, Counter Insurgency and Terrorism), Leadership and Development subjects, as well as taking care of orchards, fishing and hunting.

He is married to Puan Sri Datin Seri Hajjah Rusnah binti Haji A. Rahman and the couple is blessed with four children, two sons and two daughters.

Post-military career

After retiring from military service, Zulkifli continues his life as a civilian without anything holding any position GLC compared to other former Chiefs of Army and Chiefs of Defence Forces as well as Chiefs of the Air Force and Chiefs of the Navy who have since retired from service.

However on 20 January 2023, Zulkifli was appointed as Chief Negotiator of the South Thailand insurgency peace process, succeeding the 5th Inspector of General Police, Tan Sri Abdul Rahim Mohd Noor who held the office for 15 years since 2008.

Honours

• Malaysia :
  • Officer of the Order of the Defender of the Realm (KMN) (1996)
  • Companion of the Order of Loyalty to the Crown of Malaysia (JSM) (2007)
  • Commander of the Order of Meritorious Service (PJN) – Datuk (2011)
  • Commander of the Order of Loyalty to the Crown of Malaysia (PSM) – Tan Sri (2012)
  • Commander of the Order of the Defender of the Realm (PMN) – Tan Sri (2019)
• Perak :
  • Knight Commander of the Order of Taming Sari (DPTS) – Dato' Pahlawan (2007)
  • Knight Grand Commander of the Order of Taming Sari (SPTS) – Dato' Seri Panglima (2012)
• Pahang :
  • Grand Knight of the Order of the Crown of Pahang (SIMP) – Dato' Indera (2010)
  • Knight Companion of the Order of Sultan Ahmad Shah of Pahang (DSAP) – Dato' (2011)
  • Grand Knight of the Order of Sultan Ahmad Shah of Pahang (SSAP) – Dato' Sri (2012)
• Kedah :
  • Member of the Exalted Order of the Crown of Kedah (AMK) (1998)
  • Knight Commander of the Glorious Order of the Crown of Kedah (DGMK) – Dato' Wira (2011)
  • Knight Commander of the Order of Loyalty to Sultan Abdul Halim Mu'adzam Shah (DHMS) – Dato' Paduka (2012)
• Penang :
  • Commander of the Order of the Defender of State (DGPN) – Dato' Seri (2012)
  • Knight Commander of the Order of the Defender of State (DPPN) – Dato' Seri (2018)
• Kelantan :
  • Knight Grand Commander of the Order of the Noble Crown of Kelantan (SPKK) – Dato' (2012)
• Selangor :
  • Knight Commander of the Order of the Crown of Selangor (DPMS) – Dato' (2012)
  • Knight Grand Commander of the Order of the Crown of Selangor (SPMS) – Dato' Seri (2018)
• Negeri Sembilan :
  • Grand Knight of the Order of Loyalty to Tuanku Muhriz (SSTM) – Dato' Seri (2013)
• Terengganu :
  • Knight Grand Commander of the Order of the Crown of Terengganu (SPMT) – Dato' (2013)
• Malaysian Armed Forces :
  • The Most Gallant Order of Military Service with the ranks of Courageous Commander (Darjah Panglima Gagah Angkatan Tentera/PGAT) and Warrior (Pahlawan Angkatan Tentera/PAT)
  • Malaysian Service Medal
  • General Service Medal

Foreign honours

• Brunei:
  • – The Most Exalted Order of Famous Valour 1st Cl – Darjah Paduka Keberanian Laila Terbilang Yang Amat Gemilang Darjah Pertama – (DPKT) which carries the title Dato Paduka Seri
• Singapore:
  • – Darjah Utama Bakti Cemerlang (Tentera) – (DUBC)
• Thailand :
  • Honorary Airborne Wings - From The Royal Thai Army