Latest news with #Norazlan
New Straits Times
a day ago
- Business
- New Straits Times
RMAF to adapt strategy in response to global tensions, says new chief
SHAH ALAM: The Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) will draw lessons from global conflicts and adapt its long-term strategy accordingly, said its newly appointed chief, General Datuk Seri Muhamad Norazlan Aris. Norazlan said the air force is closely monitoring the tensions involving Russia, Ukraine, India, Pakistan, Iran and Israel. "What the air force is doing is looking at what we can learn from these conflicts. "We will then review whether our plan is aligned or moving in the same direction with what's happening in our surroundings. "If we need to do some adjustment, we will, because we must remain relevant and in tune with current realities," he told a press conference after assuming the command of the RMAF from General Tan Sri Mohd Asghar Khan Goriman Khan. Norazlan also gave his assurance that all RMAF initiatives under the CAP55 would continue under his leadership. "This is to ensure that the RMAF remains a credible and dominant air power with full-spectrum capability. "First, it's capability development. Second, we want modernisation. Third, it's about human capital development. "We can already see this under the current Madani administration, with the procurement of new assets. These are not just replacements for old platforms, but actual capability upgrades." He added that such efforts require more than just acquisitions, but also strong emphasis on training and operational readiness. "We will focus on this as we work to build capability. When it comes to human resources, we need the right people, well-trained individuals. "This must be prioritised so that the assets we acquire can be optimised to their fullest potential," he said.
Sinar Daily
a day ago
- General
- Sinar Daily
Norazlan Aris appointed 21st Air Force Chief
He succeeds General Tan Sri Mohd Asghar Khan Goriman Khan, who retires from service today. 26 Jun 2025 11:31am General Datuk Seri Muhamad Norazlan Aris has been appointed as the 21st Chief of the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF), succeeding General Tan Sri Mohd Asghar Khan Goriman Khan, who retires from service today. SUBANG - General Datuk Seri Muhamad Norazlan Aris has been appointed as the 21st Chief of the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF), succeeding General Tan Sri Mohd Asghar Khan Goriman Khan, who retires from service today. Norazlan, who previously served as Deputy RMAF Chief, officially assumed the position during a Handover of Duty Ceremony held at the Subang Air Base today, witnessed by Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF) Chief General Tan Sri Mohd Nizam Jaafar. Also held was a Promotion Ceremony marking Norazlan's elevation from Lieutenant General to General, as well as a Farewell Parade in honour of the 20th Air Force Chief. Also held during the ceremony was a Promotion Ceremony marking Norazlan's elevation from Lieutenant General to General, as well as a Farewell Parade in honour of the 20th Air Force Chief. Norazlan, 58, who hails from Kota Tinggi, Johor, underwent training as a Cadet Officer at the Royal Military College (RMC) in Sungai Besi from 1985 to 1987 before beginning his flight training under the RMAF in 1988 in Alor Setar. Throughout his career, Norazlan has flown various types of fighter aircraft including the Aermacchi MB339A, A4PTM Skyhawk, Mikoyan-Gurevich MIG-29N/UB and the Sukhoi 30MKM. He has also held various key positions within the RMAF, including Commander of Gong Kedak Air Base, Deputy Assistant Chief of Staff for Planning and Development, Chief of Staff at the Air Operations Command Headquarters, Air Support Commander, and Air Operations Commander, before assuming the role of Deputy RMAF Chief on 28 June 2022. General Datuk Seri Muhamad Norazlan Aris has been appointed as the 21st Chief of the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF), succeeding General Tan Sri Mohd Asghar Khan Goriman Khan, who retires from service today. Meanwhile, Asghar Khan served in the RMAF for more than 42 years, having joined the force on 18 July 1983 as a Cadet Officer at RMC. He began his career as a fighter pilot in 1985 and has flown combat aircraft such as the A4 Skyhawk, F-5E, MIG-29N, and Sukhoi 30MKM. Asghar Khan had served as the Air Force Chief since March 7, 2022, succeeding General Tan Sri Ackbal Abdul Samad upon his mandatory retirement. - BERNAMA
New Straits Times
23-05-2025
- Business
- New Straits Times
PM Anwar's Russia trip seen as gateway to Central Asian halal market
KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's recent official visit to Russia is not only a strategic move to strengthen bilateral relations, but also a "gateway" for Malaysia to explore the halal industry in the European and Central Asian regions, according to an analyst. Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI) senior lecturer Dr Norazlan Hadi Yaacob said the visit also reflected Malaysia's new diplomatic approach in engaging with countries that have significant trade potential and shared cultural values, instead of focusing solely on traditional major powers such as the United States. "Many people don't realise that great Islamic scholars like Imam Bukhari hail from this region (Central Asia), which shares a similar Islamic intellectual tradition. These were major Islamic empires in the medieval era. So we're leveraging Malaysia's status as a respected Islamic country to reach out to them (Russia). "I'm confident one of the benefits we will reap is access to the halal industry, which is worth billions of ringgit. So we need to look at it from that perspective, not from an ideological standpoint about who we support," he said in a special programme aired on Bernama TV last night ahead of the 46th Asean Summit. The 46th Asean Summit, themed Inclusivity and Sustainability, begins today with the senior officials' meeting, followed by the ministerial meeting on May 25 and the leaders' summit starting May 26. Taking into account Malaysia's role as the Asean 2025 Chair, Norazlan added that the visit underscores the government's consistent stance on maintaining an independent and non-aligned foreign policy, not tied to any particular power bloc. At the same time, Malaysia remains proactive in exploring strategic opportunities in the national and regional interests, said the Faculty of Human Sciences lecturer. "We (Malaysia) are a small and trade-dependent country, so it's essential to have many friends (trading partners), and that is something anyone can acknowledge. "In the Asean context, the Prime Minister is one of the most senior leaders in the region and has been well known for decades, so his networking is extensive. This makes Asean under his leadership more appealing, especially given its large market of nearly 700 million people," he said. Norazlan expressed hope that through Malaysia's Asean Chairmanship, regional unity and economic cooperation can be enhanced, noting that intra-Asean trade remains low at around 20 per cent, compared to trade with major powers like the US, which can reach up to 60 per cent. Hence, he said, this summit could be a catalyst for such efforts, as key Asean economies like Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, and Singapore share a common vision of strengthening the bloc. Touching on the increasingly prominent issue of Myanmar, Norazlan said Malaysia has adopted a prudent approach, with the Prime Minister having met several times with stakeholders from that country in Thailand. "Perhaps those meetings were too sensitive, and we don't know what was discussed, but at the very least, they took place. Were they productive? "For me, we shouldn't view this through the wrong narrative of ideology. Right now, economic considerations are more important than ideology, and I believe Myanmar too will shift away from ideological focus and prioritise economic interests to resolve the issue," he said.
