KUALA LUMPUR: The country's eighth armed forces chief General (Rtd) Tan Sri Mohd Ghazali Che Mat died at the Tunku Mizan Armed Forces Hospital in Wangsa Maju, today.
His eldest daughter Norliza said Ghazali, 91, died at 6.33pm from complications arising from severe septicaemia and pneumonia resulting in multi-organ failure.
She said her father was being treated at the hospital's intensive care unit since July 4, after complaining of breathing difficulties at home in Ulu Kelang.
Ghazali, who also leaves behind three sons, had earlier last month sought treatment at the hospital and was warded for some time.
"Funeral arrangements are being made at the Khalid Al-Walid mosque at the Defence Ministry in Jalan Padang Tembak tonight before burial at the Bukit Permai Muslim cemetery in Taman AU Keramat tomorrow," said Norliza.
Ghazali, who was born on Dec 17, 1930 at Lenggong, Perak, was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Royal Malay Regiment (RMR) in 1954.
He then attended the Officer Cadet School at Eaton Hall, England before being selected for training at the prestigious Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in England.
Ghazali rose through the ranks and became army chief for a year from 1984 before being appointed as the armed forces chief until his mandatory retirement in 1987.
Ghazali is a highly decorated officer having been bestowed the country's second highest gallantry award of Panglima Gagah Berani (PGB) on Aug 31, 1958.
He earned this as a young lieutenant, after successfully leading his RMR platoon against an ambush of a Communist Party of Malaya terrorist group in the deep jungles of the peninsula on Nov 13, 1957.
During the clash on a hill, Ghazali and Private Hassan Selati reportedly made a surprise counter-attack killing two insurgents and forcing the enemy to retreat.
After retirement, Ghazali served as the chairman of the Armed Forces Superannuation Fund (LTAT) and Boustead Holdings until 2019.
He had also served as chairman of the New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd in the late 1980s.