Mohd Ghazali Mohd Seth

In this Malay name, there is no family name. The name Mohd Seth is a patronymic, and the person should be referred to by the given name, Mohd Ghazali. The Arabic-derived word "bin" or "binti"/"binte", if used, means 'son of' or 'daughter of', respectively.

General (Rtd) Tan Sri Dato' Sri Mohd Ghazali bin Mohd Seth (4 February 1929 – 24 August 2021) was the 7th Chief of Defence Forces of Malaysia.

Yang Berbahagia General (Rtd) Tan Sri Dato' Sri Mohd Ghazali Mohd Seth PGAT PMN PSM SPMJ SIMP DHMS DA PNBS JMN PPC
محمد غزالي محمد شيث‎
7th Chief of Defence Forces
In office 20 January 1982 – 31 October 1985
Monarchs	Ahmad Shah Iskandar
Prime Minister	Mahathir Mohamad
Minister of Defence	Mahathir Mohamad
Preceded by	Mohd Sany Abdul Ghaffar
Succeeded by	Mohd Ghazali Che Mat
7th Chief of Army
In office 1 December 1977 – 19 January 1982
Preceded by	Mohd Sany Abdul Ghaffar
Succeeded by	Zain Hashim
Personal details
Born	(1929-02-04)4 February 1929 Johor Bahru, Johor, Unfederated Malay States, British Malaya (now Malaysia)
Died	24 August 2021(2021-08-24) (aged 92) Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Resting place	Bukit Kiara Muslim Cemetery, Kuala Lumpur
Spouse	Norziah Onn (died 2023)
Children	5 (1 deceased)
Relatives	Onn Jaafar (father-in-law) Hussein Onn (brother-in-law) Ismail Abdul Rahman (brother-in-law) Hishammuddin Hussein (nephew) Yahya Awang (nephew-in-law) Onn Hafiz Ghazi (grandnephew)
Profession	Senior military officer
Nickname	Gary
Military service
Allegiance	Malaysia
Branch/service	Malaysian Army
Years of service	1954–1985
Rank	General
Commands	Chief of Army (1977–82) Chief of Defence Forces (1982–85)

Background

Ghazali was born on 4 February 1929 in Johor Bahru, Johore. He was a prodigy of the state of Johore whom attended secondary school at the legendary and prestigious English College (Maktab Sultan Abu Bakar), Johor Bahru in 1946 and had undergone military training at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in 1952. He had served as Army chief (1977–1982) prior to his appointment as the 7th Chief of the Malaysian Defence Forces (1982–1985).^[1][2]

Death

Ghazali died on 24 August 2021 at the Cardiac Vascular Sentral (CVSKL) private hospital due to pneumonia whilst receiving treatment for cancer^[3][4] and was buried at the Bukit Kiara Muslim Cemetery in Kuala Lumpur.^[5][6]

Honours

Honours of Malaysia

•   Malaysia :
  •   Recipient of the Malaysian Commemorative Medal (Silver) (PPM) (1965)
  •   Officer of the Order of the Defender of the Realm (KMN) (1968)^[7]
  •   Companion of the Order of the Defender of the Realm (JMN) (1971)^[8]
  •   Commander of the Order of Loyalty to the Crown of Malaysia (PSM) – Tan Sri (1978)^[9]
  •   Commander of the Order of the Defender of the Realm (PMN) – Tan Sri (1981)^[10]
•   Malaysian Armed Forces :
  •   Courageous Commander of the Gallant Order of Military Service (PGAT)
•   Johor :
  •   Companion of the Order of the Crown of Johor (SMJ)
  •   Knight Commander of the Order of the Crown of Johor (DPMJ) – Dato'
  •   Knight Grand Commander of the Order of the Crown of Johor (SPMJ) – Dato'
•   Pahang :
  •   Grand Knight of the Order of the Crown of Pahang (SIMP) – formerly Dato', now Dato' Indera (1981)^[11]
•   Kedah :
  •   Knight Commander of the Order of Loyalty to Sultan Abdul Halim Mu'adzam Shah (DHMS) – Dato' Paduka (1983)^[12]
•   Sarawak :
  •   Distinguished Service Medal (Gold) (PPC)
  •   Knight Commander of the Order of the Star of Sarawak (PNBS) – formerly Dato, now Dato Sri
  •   Knight Commander of the Order of the Star of Hornbill Sarawak (DA) – Datuk Amar (2012)

Foreign Honours

•   Indonesia :
  •   Honorary Recipient of the Bintang Dharma (BD) (1969)^[13]

References

1. "Recruit-turned General Gary Ghazali dies". New Straits Times. 24 August 2021. Retrieved 24 August 2021.
2. "King, Queen extend condolences to family of ex-chief of Defence Force Mohd Ghazali". The Star. 24 August 2021. Retrieved 24 August 2021.
3. "Former chief of Defence Force Mohd Ghazali passes away at 92". The Star. 24 August 2021. Retrieved 24 August 2021.
4. "Agong, Raja Permaisuri zahir ucapan takziah kepada keluarga PAT ke-7". Berita Harian (in Malay). 24 August 2021. Retrieved 24 August 2021.
5. "Jenazah bekas PAT ketujuh Mohd Ghazali selamat dikebumikan". Bernama (in Malay). 24 August 2021. Retrieved 24 August 2021.
6. "Jenazah bekas PAT ke-7 Mohd Ghazali selamat dikebumikan". Berita Harian (in Malay). 24 August 2021. Retrieved 24 August 2021.
7. "Senarai Penuh Penerima Darjah Kebesaran, Bintang dan Pingat Persekutuan Tahun 1968" (PDF).
8. "Senarai Penuh Penerima Darjah Kebesaran, Bintang dan Pingat Persekutuan Tahun 1971" (PDF).
9. "Senarai Penuh Penerima Darjah Kebesaran, Bintang dan Pingat Persekutuan Tahun 1978" (PDF).
10. "Senarai Penuh Penerima Darjah Kebesaran, Bintang dan Pingat Persekutuan Tahun 1981" (PDF).
11. "Trengganu Ruler tops awards list". New Straits Times. 24 October 1981. p. 4.
12. "Dr. Hasmah terima kurnia Sultan Kedah" (PDF). Utusan Malaysia (in Malay). Perdana Leadership Foundation. 18 July 1983. Retrieved 18 January 2022.
13. "Bintang Indonesia untok pegawai tentera". Berita Harian. 4 October 1969. p. 10.