Zain Hashim

In this Malay name, there is no surname or family name. The name Hashim is a patronymic, and the person should be referred to by their given name, Zain. The word "bin"/"ibn" or "binti"/"binte" means 'son of' or 'daughter of', respectively.

Yang Berbahagia General (Rtd) Tan Sri
Zain Hashim
PGAT PSM SPMJ SPSK SIMP PNBS DCSM DPMS DSAP DSMT PGDK JSM SMJ SMT PPB PJK PKB PPA PPM PNBB PJM PM
زين هاشم‎
Zain's portrait, c. 1980s
8th Chief of Army
In office
20 January 1981 – 16 January 1984
MonarchAhmad Shah
Prime Minister
  • Hussein Onn
    (1981)
  • Mahathir Mohamad
    (1981–1984)
Preceded byMohd Ghazali Mohd Seth
Succeeded byMohd Ghazali Che Mat
Personal details
BornZain Abdul Rashid bin Mahmud Hashim
(1930-08-01)1 August 1930
Hampstead, London, England
Died30 June 2011(2011-06-30) (aged 80)
Selayang Hospital, Selangor, Malaysia
Spouses
  • Che Zaharah Alias
    ​
    ​
    (m. 1961; div. 1995)​
  • Salifah Mohd Esa
    ​
    (m. 1995)​
Children3
Military service
Allegiance
Branch/service
Years of service
1949–1984
Rank General
Unit
Battles/wars

Zain bin Hashim[note 1] (1 August 1930 – 30 June 2011), was a Malaysian military officer who served as the 8th chief of the Malaysian Army from January 1981 to January 1984.[1]

Early life and education

Zain was born on 1 August 1930 in Hampstead, London and moved to Kelantan when he was one year old.[2] He attended secondary education at Ismail English School, Kota Bharu and graduated in 1948.[3]

During his military career, Zain attended various courses at multiple institutions, such as Staff College, Camberley in 1958, the Imperial Defence College, London in 1971, and at Harvard Business School in 1984.[4][5][6]

Military career

Early military career

Zain joined the military in 1949 as a recruit for Malay Regiment he was selected to attend a two years Officer Cadet Course at Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst in 1950.[7] After he completed the course, he was commissioned as second lieutenant and posted as company officer at the Federation Armoured Car Regiment.[8]

After graduating from the Staff College, Camberley in 1960, he posted as brigade major of 3rd Infantry Brigade.[9] During the time in which he held that post, he served with his brigade under the Malayan Special Forces for United Nations Operation in the Congo (UNOC).[10]

When his assignment was completed in 1961, he posted as commanding officer of the 2nd Battalion, Federation Reconnaissance Corps and was promoted to lieutenant colonel. He held that position until 1963, when he was transferred at the Ministry of Defence to serve as a Principal Staff Officer in the Personnel Division.[9]

In early August 1967, he was promoted to colonel and appointed commander of the Kuala Lumpur Garrison.[11]

Rise to flag rank

In October 1968, he was promoted to brigadier general and appointed as chief of personnel staff at the Ministry of Defence.[12][13] He held the position until he was transferred and appointed the commander of the 3rd Infantry Brigade in Kuching a year later.[14]

After completing a course at the Imperial Defence College, London, he was appointed as commander of the 7th Infantry Brigade in late 1972.[15]

In early 1977, he was appointed as Chief of Logistic Staff before he was transferred as Deputy Chief of Army in the following year.[16]

He was promoted to lieutenant general in early October 1980.[17]

Chief of Army

Zain was appointed as the 8th Chief of Army on 20 January 1981, following his predecessor, Mohd Ghazali Mohd Seth, the 7th Chief of Defense Forces.[18] He held the post until 16 January 1984, when he was succeeded by Mohd Ghazali Che Mat.[6]

Personal life

Family

Zain was married Che Zaharah binti Alias in 1961 and had one daughter and one son with her.[19] Zain and Zaharah officially divorced in 1995. That same year, he married Salifah binti Mohd Esa, and later had one son with her.[20]

Death

Zain was pronounced dead at 3:50 PM on 30 June 2011 at Selayang Hospital, Selangor, with the cause of death being old age. That night, he was buried at Section 9 Muslim Cemetery, Kota Damansara.[21]

Honours

Honours of Malaysia

Foreign honours

Notes

  1. ^
    • Jawi: زين بن هاشم‎
    • In some newsletters, he known as Zain bin Mahmud Hashim or Zain Abdul Rashid bin Mahmud Hashim

References

  1. ^ "Senarai Panglima Tentera Darat". Official Website of the Malaysian Army (in Malay). Retrieved 29 July 2025.
  2. ^ "Sgt. Zain goes back". Singapore Free Press. 30 September 1950. p. 1.
  3. ^ "The Cambridge Exam. Results–2". The Straits Times. 10 May 1948. p. 9.
  4. ^ "For Training In England". Singapore Standard. 4 July 1958. p. 7.
  5. ^ "MILITARY COURSE". Singapore Herald. 8 January 1971. p. 6.
  6. ^ a b "Red strength in jungles 'greatly reduced'". The Straits Times. 8 January 1984. p. 7.
  7. ^ "Nine Malays For Sandhurst". Malaya Tribune. 2 October 1950. p. 5.
  8. ^ "Untitled". Singapore Standard. 2 September 1952. p. 3.
  9. ^ a b "A new staff officer at Ministry of Defence". The Straits Times. 3 July 1963. p. 10.
  10. ^ "Malayan CO. meets U.N. officer". The Straits Times. 9 November 1960. p. 10.
  11. ^ "Commander of K.L. Garrison". Eastern Sun. 5 August 1967. p. 12.
  12. ^ "DUA LAGI NAIK PANGKAT BRIG. GENERAL". Berita Harian (in Malay). 12 October 1968. p. 2.
  13. ^ "Pegawai bertukar di-hormati mengikut tradisi tentera". Berita Harian (in Malay). 27 October 1968. p. 12.
  14. ^ "Ketua baharu Briged Ke-3". Berita Harian (in Malay). 23 October 1969. p. 15.
  15. ^ "Promotion for top brass in shake-up". New Straits Times. 7 December 1972. p. 5.
  16. ^ "M'sia umumkan naik pangkat tiga pegawai kanan tentera". Berita Harian (in Malay). 1 January 1977. p. 3.
  17. ^ "Army chief made full General". New Straits Times. 1 November 1980. p. 1.
  18. ^ "Gen Sany's successor?". The Straits Times. 6 January 1981. p. 28.
  19. ^ "Another Congo veteran weds". The Straits Times. 28 November 1961. p. 8.
  20. ^ Mukhtar Abdullah (2019). Muta'ah Bukanlah Suatu Tuntutan Balas Dendam (PDF) (in Malay). Malaysian Bar Council. pp. 12–20. Retrieved 3 March 2026.
  21. ^ "Bekas PTD Tan Sri Zain Hashim meninggal dunia" (in Malay). MalaysiaKini. 1 July 2011. Retrieved 5 March 2026.
  22. ^ "Senarai Penerima Darjah Kebesaran, Bintang dan Pingat Persekutuan Tahun 1981" (PDF). www.istiadat.gov.my.
  23. ^ "Senarai Penerima Darjah Kebesaran, Bintang dan Pingat Persekutuan Tahun 1969" (PDF). www.istiadat.gov.my.
  24. ^ "4 'Tan Sri' antara 350 yg terima penghormatan". Berita Harian (in Malay). 31 August 1969. p. 1.
  25. ^ "Peacekeeping military officers receive medals". New Straits Times. 9 June 1995. p. 7.
  26. ^ "King Receives Highest Forces Award". New Straits Times. 13 September 1983. p. 1.
  27. ^ "Ministers head Sultan's awards list". New Straits Times. 16 November 1972. p. 11.
  28. ^ "Sultan: Be on guard against anti-nationals". New Straits Times. 31 March 1981. p. 5.
  29. ^ "Melaka Yang di-Pertua Negeri honours 130: Hon Nyan and Adib get second highest award". New Straits Times. 8 June 1983. p. 3.
  30. ^ "DPMS 1982". awards.selangor.gov.my. Retrieved 16 January 2026.
  31. ^ "Johor Ruler heads honours list" (PDF). New Straits Times. 29 April 1982. p. 5.
  32. ^ "Menteri Muda terima anugerah di-raja bergelar Dato". Berita Harian (in Malay). 26 June 1965. p. 2.
  33. ^ "Army chief receives Thai award". New Straits Times. 8 April 1983. p. 7.
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