
Johnny Lim, first three-star general of Chinese descent, retires
Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin shared the news in a post on his social media account after receiving a courtesy visit from the Commandant of the National Resilience College in conjunction with his retirement at Wisma Pertahanan today.
"On behalf of the government and the Defence Ministry, I express my gratitude to him for his dedicated service and contributions to the nation and the military.
"I hope he will continue to contribute to the country in his own capacity. Thank you, General, and best wishes for your retirement," the post read.
In June, Johnny made history as the first ethnic Chinese officer to attain the rank of Lieutenant General in the Armed Forces.
Lim received his early education at St Francis Primary School in Melaka from 1973 to 1978, and continued at St Francis Secondary School until 1983.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


New Straits Times
2 hours ago
- New Straits Times
Mohamed Khaled holds trilateral talks ahead of Cambodia-Thailand border meeting
KUALA LUMPUR: Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin today held a trilateral meeting with his counterparts from Cambodia and Thailand in preparation for the upcoming General Border Committee (GBC) meeting between the two neighbouring countries on Aug 7. In a Facebook post, Mohamed Khaled said the virtual meeting was attended by Cambodia's Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister General Tea Seiha, as well as Thailand's Acting Defence Minister General Natthaphon Narkphanit. "This meeting marks an important step in preparing for the Cambodia-Thailand General Border Committee (GBC) session scheduled to take place on Aug 7 in Kuala Lumpur. "With the spirit of Asean, Malaysia is fully committed to supporting a peaceful, Asean-led resolution process in line with our shared regional values," he said. The meeting was also joined by armed forces chief General Tan Sri Mohd Nizam Jaffar and Defence Ministry Deputy Secretary-General (Policy) Mohd Yani Daud. Mohamed Khaled said the GBC meeting will be attended by observers from Malaysia, the United States and China. Prior to the GBC session, representatives from Cambodia and Thailand will hold preliminary meetings from Aug 4 to 6. "These discussions reflect the parties' commitment to peaceful negotiations and constructive dialogue. "We hope this contributes to our shared responsibility to preserve peace and stability in the Asean region, and Malaysia stands ready to ensure smooth proceedings while supporting every step of this peace process in a neutral capacity," he added. Previously, the Malaysian armed forces confirmed it would facilitate the GBC meeting between Thailand and Cambodia in Kuala Lumpur from Aug 4 to 7. According to a statement from its Defence Strategic Communication and Intelligence Division, the GBC aims to resolve border disputes between the two nations as part of a ceasefire agreement signed in Malaysia on July 28. The meeting was initially scheduled to be held in Phnom Penh on Aug 4, but on July 31, Thailand proposed relocating it to Malaysia as a neutral venue and extending the discussion period beyond the originally planned single day. – Bernama


Borneo Post
2 hours ago
- Borneo Post
Peace, stability enable Malaysia to act as mediator in regional conflicts, says Anwar
Anwar says the strength and stability of Malaysia's government have earned the nation international recognition, leading to its selection as the coordinator for ceasefire negotiations between Thailand and Cambodia. – Bernama photo KUALA LUMPUR (Aug 2): Malaysia's peace and political stability have positioned the country as a credible mediator in facilitating reconciliation efforts between two Asean countries recently affected by conflict, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. He said the strength and stability of Malaysia's government have earned the nation international recognition, leading to its selection as the coordinator for ceasefire negotiations between Thailand and Cambodia. 'The country remains peaceful because we have a strong government. Therefore, we must be cautious of any efforts aimed at weakening it. If the country were to fall into disarray, with constant conflict and political demands, who would come to us?' he said. Anwar made the remarks at the opening of the Mega 3D Carnival 2025 (MK3D 2025) at the Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre (MITEC) today. Elaborating further, he said the Defence Ministers of Thailand and Cambodia are expected to arrive in Kuala Lumpur on Monday (August 4) to engage in negotiations and finalise matters related to maintaining peace along their shared borders. Anwar said the matter proves that Thailand and Cambodia remain in close contact with Malaysia in their efforts to achieve lasting peace. 'I asked about the latest developments, and (Cambodian Prime Minister) Hun Manet kept thanking Malaysia, informing me that there is no more fighting (with Thailand). 'He (Hun Manet) requested us (Malaysia) to help…Both the Thai and Cambodian Defence Ministers will be coming to Kuala Lumpur for talks starting Monday to formalise detailed security arrangements between the two countries,' he said. Anwar added that Malaysia's role in brokering the ceasefire talks between Thailand and Cambodia gained international attention, including from United States President Donald Trump, who personally contacted him to express gratitude for Malaysia's efforts. 'President Trump praised us for doing a 'fantastic job' in bringing Thailand and Cambodia together to reach a peace agreement…something that had proven difficult elsewhere. 'The first attempt at negotiations had limited success. President Trump had tried by phone. China also tried, and there was some success. 'So, Malaysia, through the Foreign Ministry and the Commander of the Armed Forces, took coordinated action. Eventually, the Prime Ministers of Thailand and Cambodia came to Malaysia, and within just two and a half hours, a ceasefire agreement was reached,' he said. Earlier reports confirmed that Thailand and Cambodia had agreed to an immediate and unconditional ceasefire following a Special Meeting in Putrajaya, with Malaysia acting as the official coordinator of the session. – Bernama Anwar Ibrahim cambodia conflict malaysia peace Thailand


The Star
4 hours ago
- The Star
Myanmar military courts sentence 12 to life for human trafficking, including Chinese nationals
BANGKOK (AP): Myanmar military courts have sentenced a dozen individuals - including five Chinese nationals - to life imprisonment for their involvement in multiple human trafficking cases, state-run media reported Saturday. According to the Myanma Alinn newspaper, the convictions stem from a range of offenses including the online distribution of sex videos and the trafficking of Myanmar women into forced marriages in China. In one case, five people - including two Chinese nationals identified as Lin Te and Wang Xiaofeng - were sentenced to life imprisonment by a military court in Yangon, the country's largest city, on July 29. They were found guilty under Myanmar's Anti-Trafficking in Persons law for producing sex videos involving three Myanmar couples and distributing the footage online for profit. In a separate case, the same court sentenced a woman and three Chinese nationals - Yibo, Cao Qiu Quan and Chen Huan. The group was convicted of planning to transport two Myanmar women, recently married to two of the convicted Chinese men, into China, the report said. Additionally, three other people received life sentences from a separate military court for selling a woman as a bride to China, and for attempting to do the same with another woman. In another case, a woman from Myanmar's central Magway region was given a 10-year sentence on July 30 for planning to transport two Myanmar women to be sold as brides to Chinese men, the report said. Human trafficking, particularly of women and girls lured or forced into marriages in China, remains a widespread problem in Myanmar, a country still reeling from civil war after the military seized power from the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi in February 2021. The persisting conflict in most areas of Myanmar has left millions of women and children vulnerable to exploitation. A 2018 report by the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and the Kachin Women's Association Thailand (KWAT) - which works to prevent and respond to trafficking in northern Kachin and Shan states bordering China - estimated that about 21,000 women and girls from northern Myanmar were forced into marriage in China between 2013 and 2017. In its latest report published in December, KWAT noted a sharp decline in the number of trafficking survivors accessing its services from 2020 to 2023. It attributed the decline to the Covid-19 pandemic and border closures caused by the ongoing conflict following the army takeover. However, it reported a resurgence in 2024 as people from across Myanmar began migrating to China in search of work. Maj-Gen Aung Kyaw Kyaw, a deputy minister for Home Affairs, said during a June meeting that the authorities had handled 53 cases of human trafficking, forced marriage and prostitution in 2024, 34 of which involved China, according to a report published by Myanmar's Information Ministry. The report also said that a total of 80 human trafficking cases, including 14 involving marriage deception by foreign nationals, were recorded between January and June this year. - AP