Zaini Mohamad Said
Encyclopedia
Lieutenant General
(Retired) Dato' Seri Zaini Mohamad Said is a retired Malaysian Army
general officer with the last rank, Leftenan Jeneral (Lieutenant General
) and last position as the Malaysian Army
Field Commander. Zaini is wellknown and famous for his role in the surrender of Mohamed Amin Mohamed Razali, the leader of the Al-Mau'nah
group that staged the arms heist at Battalion 304 Rejimen Askar Wataniah
and the subsequent siege of the group at Bukit Jenalik, Sauk in Perak
. Zaini was awarded the Seri Pahlawan Gagah Perkasa
(SP), Malaysia's highest gallantry award, for his role during the Al Mau'nah siege.
. He had his early education in Kuala Lumpur
.
Officer in 1965. He had held many appointments throughout his career in the Malaysian Army and spent about 25 years out of his 35 years services time with the Malaysian Army
and its Special Forces.
He was vastly experienced in the command of elite and regular army formations. He was Deputy Commander of the 21 Gerup Gerak Khas, later Commander of the 10 Parachute Brigade
and later appointed the General Officer Commanding
(GOC) of the 3rd Infantry Division
based in Peninsular Malaysia.
He attended the US Marine Corps Command and Staff College Course in 1978/79, and later the Malaysian Armed Forces Defence College Course in Kuala Lumpur
in 1985. He was a graduate of the National Defence College Course in Pakistan
. In 1997, He attended the Asian Institute of Management
Top Management Course in Phuket
, Thailand . In 2000, he participated in the seminar program for Senior Executive in National and International Security in Harvard University
, USA.
His last posting was as Army
Field Commander . He retired from the army in August 2001 with the rank Lieutenant General
.
. They dressed up as senior army officers making a surprise inspection of the Battalion
304 Rejimen Askar Wataniah camp at the Temenggor Dam
in Gerik
, Perak
. The group raided the armouries and took away 97 M16 assault rifles, four GPMGs, five grenade launchers, 9,095 rounds of 5.56 mm, 60 rounds of 40 mm ammunition and communication equipments. They then retreated to their preapred positions at Bukit Jenalik, Sauk in Perak
.
As the Army
Corps
Commander, Zaini was the most senior Army personnel on the scene. Amin wanted to meet Zaini
] Together with Asisten Supritendan Polis Abdul Razak Mohd. Yusof, he tried to negotiate with the Al-Ma'unah members to lay down their arms and surrender. Amin was about to shoot Zaini when the latter warded off the gun which was then fired by Amin. The burst of gunfire hit one of Amin’s followers, Halim, killing him instantly." (NST 7 July 2000 front-page story)
based opposition party. The allegation was made despite the shooting to death of commando
Mathew anak Medan and police
detective Sarjan R. Sagadevan and the gunshot wounds incurred by Sarjan Ukoon anak Pungkok. Zaini claimed the allegations were made by groups with a political agenda
. He claimed the allegations had belittled the sacrifices of the security forces and was most disgusting and humiliating to the security forces whose achievements and devotion to duty had received world recognition.
of Opcom Holdings Berhad on 12 September 2003 and made Chairman of the Audit Committee. He is also a Director of a public listed company, AV Ventures Corporation Berhad (formerly known as Autoindustries Ventures Berhad). He is presently the Chairman of RMS Technology Sdn. Bhd.
Zaini was quoted by the Agence France Presse, 3 February 2002 as saying that a military conflict may break out if the issue of water supply between Singapore
and Malaysia is not resolved properly. "In this context, it is crucial the issue of water is addressed with caution by the leaders and the governments of the two countries. A military conflict must be avoided because it will only hurt both countries," he was quoted as saying in the Mingguan Malaysia
.
(SP), Malaysia's highest gallantry award for his role during the Al Mau'nah siege.
Lieutenant General
Lieutenant General is a military rank used in many countries. The rank traces its origins to the Middle Ages where the title of Lieutenant General was held by the second in command on the battlefield, who was normally subordinate to a Captain General....
(Retired) Dato' Seri Zaini Mohamad Said is a retired Malaysian Army
Malaysian Army
The Malaysian Army is the land component of the Malaysian Armed Forces. Steeped in British Army traditions, the Malaysian Army does not carry the title ‘royal’ as do the Royal Malaysian Air Force and the Royal Malaysian Navy...
general officer with the last rank, Leftenan Jeneral (Lieutenant General
Lieutenant General
Lieutenant General is a military rank used in many countries. The rank traces its origins to the Middle Ages where the title of Lieutenant General was held by the second in command on the battlefield, who was normally subordinate to a Captain General....
) and last position as the Malaysian Army
Malaysian Army
The Malaysian Army is the land component of the Malaysian Armed Forces. Steeped in British Army traditions, the Malaysian Army does not carry the title ‘royal’ as do the Royal Malaysian Air Force and the Royal Malaysian Navy...
Field Commander. Zaini is wellknown and famous for his role in the surrender of Mohamed Amin Mohamed Razali, the leader of the Al-Mau'nah
Al-Mau'nah
The Al-Ma'unah was a militant terrorist group based in Malaysia. The group was made famous by their audacious raid on 2 July 2000 on a Malaysian Army Reserve camp in the early hours of the morning and stealing weapons from the armoury...
group that staged the arms heist at Battalion 304 Rejimen Askar Wataniah
Rejimen Askar Wataniah
The Rejimen Askar Wataniah is the military reserve force of the Malaysian Army. An equivalent formation in the British Army would be the Territorial Army....
and the subsequent siege of the group at Bukit Jenalik, Sauk in Perak
Perak
Perak , one of the 13 states of Malaysia, is the second largest state in the Peninsular Malaysia bordering Kedah and Yala Province of Thailand to the north, Penang to the northwest, Kelantan and Pahang to the east, Selangor the Strait of Malacca to the south and west.Perak means silver in Malay...
. Zaini was awarded the Seri Pahlawan Gagah Perkasa
Seri Pahlawan Gagah Perkasa
The Seri Pahlawan Gagah Perkasa is the highest federal award which can be presented in Malaysia. It was created on 29 July 1960 and was gazetted on 11 August 1969....
(SP), Malaysia's highest gallantry award, for his role during the Al Mau'nah siege.
Early life
Zaini was born in Ulu Lenggeng, Negeri SembilanNegeri Sembilan
Negeri Sembilan, one of the 13 states that constitutes Malaysia, lies on the western coast of Peninsular Malaysia, just south of Kuala Lumpur and borders Selangor on the north, Pahang in the east, and Malacca and Johor to the south....
. He had his early education in Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur is the capital and the second largest city in Malaysia by population. The city proper, making up an area of , has a population of 1.4 million as of 2010. Greater Kuala Lumpur, also known as the Klang Valley, is an urban agglomeration of 7.2 million...
.
Army service
Zaini joined the Army as CadetCadet
A cadet is a trainee to become an officer in the military, often a person who is a junior trainee. The term comes from the term "cadet" for younger sons of a noble family.- Military context :...
Officer in 1965. He had held many appointments throughout his career in the Malaysian Army and spent about 25 years out of his 35 years services time with the Malaysian Army
Malaysian Army
The Malaysian Army is the land component of the Malaysian Armed Forces. Steeped in British Army traditions, the Malaysian Army does not carry the title ‘royal’ as do the Royal Malaysian Air Force and the Royal Malaysian Navy...
and its Special Forces.
He was vastly experienced in the command of elite and regular army formations. He was Deputy Commander of the 21 Gerup Gerak Khas, later Commander of the 10 Parachute Brigade
10 Paratrooper Brigade
The 10 Paratrooper Brigade - commonly known as 10th Para - is an elite airborne brigade-sized unit within the Malaysian Army tasked with being rapidly deployed inside or outside the boundaries of Malaysia...
and later appointed the General Officer Commanding
General Officer Commanding
General Officer Commanding is the usual title given in the armies of Commonwealth nations to a general officer who holds a command appointment. Thus, a general might be the GOC II Corps or GOC 7th Armoured Division...
(GOC) of the 3rd Infantry Division
Division (military)
A division is a large military unit or formation usually consisting of between 10,000 and 20,000 soldiers. In most armies, a division is composed of several regiments or brigades, and in turn several divisions typically make up a corps...
based in Peninsular Malaysia.
He attended the US Marine Corps Command and Staff College Course in 1978/79, and later the Malaysian Armed Forces Defence College Course in Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur is the capital and the second largest city in Malaysia by population. The city proper, making up an area of , has a population of 1.4 million as of 2010. Greater Kuala Lumpur, also known as the Klang Valley, is an urban agglomeration of 7.2 million...
in 1985. He was a graduate of the National Defence College Course in Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
. In 1997, He attended the Asian Institute of Management
Asian Institute of Management
The Asian Institute of Management, or simply AIM, is a graduate school of business and a center of business and management research. It is one of the few business schools in Asia to be internationally accredited with the AACSB. It was established in partnership with Harvard Business School and uses...
Top Management Course in Phuket
Phuket Province
Phuket , formerly known as Thalang and, in Western sources, Junk Ceylon , is one of the southern provinces of Thailand...
, Thailand . In 2000, he participated in the seminar program for Senior Executive in National and International Security in Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
, USA.
His last posting was as Army
Army
An army An army An army (from Latin arma "arms, weapons" via Old French armée, "armed" (feminine), in the broadest sense, is the land-based military of a nation or state. It may also include other branches of the military such as the air force via means of aviation corps...
Field Commander . He retired from the army in August 2001 with the rank Lieutenant General
Lieutenant General
Lieutenant General is a military rank used in many countries. The rank traces its origins to the Middle Ages where the title of Lieutenant General was held by the second in command on the battlefield, who was normally subordinate to a Captain General....
.
Al Mau'nah Siege
Mohamed Amin Mohamed Razaliu led a band of 29 Al-Mau'nah men in a mission to overthrow the Malaysian government. The group, included a serving Mejar in the Malaysian ArmyMalaysian Army
The Malaysian Army is the land component of the Malaysian Armed Forces. Steeped in British Army traditions, the Malaysian Army does not carry the title ‘royal’ as do the Royal Malaysian Air Force and the Royal Malaysian Navy...
. They dressed up as senior army officers making a surprise inspection of the Battalion
Battalion
A battalion is a military unit of around 300–1,200 soldiers usually consisting of between two and seven companies and typically commanded by either a Lieutenant Colonel or a Colonel...
304 Rejimen Askar Wataniah camp at the Temenggor Dam
Temenggor Dam
The Temenggor Dam or Temenggor Power Station is a dam in Gerik, Perak, Malaysia. It is located on Sungai Perak about 200 km northeast of Ipoh. Construction of the dam impounded Temenggor Lake.-Power station:...
in Gerik
Gerik
Gerik is a district capital town of Hulu Perak district in Perak, Malaysia. The town is also known as Rest Town owing to its strategic location next to major highways of the country, East-West Highway....
, Perak
Perak
Perak , one of the 13 states of Malaysia, is the second largest state in the Peninsular Malaysia bordering Kedah and Yala Province of Thailand to the north, Penang to the northwest, Kelantan and Pahang to the east, Selangor the Strait of Malacca to the south and west.Perak means silver in Malay...
. The group raided the armouries and took away 97 M16 assault rifles, four GPMGs, five grenade launchers, 9,095 rounds of 5.56 mm, 60 rounds of 40 mm ammunition and communication equipments. They then retreated to their preapred positions at Bukit Jenalik, Sauk in Perak
Perak
Perak , one of the 13 states of Malaysia, is the second largest state in the Peninsular Malaysia bordering Kedah and Yala Province of Thailand to the north, Penang to the northwest, Kelantan and Pahang to the east, Selangor the Strait of Malacca to the south and west.Perak means silver in Malay...
.
As the Army
Army
An army An army An army (from Latin arma "arms, weapons" via Old French armée, "armed" (feminine), in the broadest sense, is the land-based military of a nation or state. It may also include other branches of the military such as the air force via means of aviation corps...
Corps
Corps
A corps is either a large formation, or an administrative grouping of troops within an armed force with a common function such as Artillery or Signals representing an arm of service...
Commander, Zaini was the most senior Army personnel on the scene. Amin wanted to meet Zaini
] Together with Asisten Supritendan Polis Abdul Razak Mohd. Yusof, he tried to negotiate with the Al-Ma'unah members to lay down their arms and surrender. Amin was about to shoot Zaini when the latter warded off the gun which was then fired by Amin. The burst of gunfire hit one of Amin’s followers, Halim, killing him instantly." (NST 7 July 2000 front-page story)
On the issue of government stage managing the Sauk incident
Bernama reported that Zaini was disappointed about allegations that the Sauk Incident was stage managed to discredit parti Islam Se Malaysia, the IslamIslam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
based opposition party. The allegation was made despite the shooting to death of commando
Commando
In English, the term commando means a specific kind of individual soldier or military unit. In contemporary usage, commando usually means elite light infantry and/or special operations forces units, specializing in amphibious landings, parachuting, rappelling and similar techniques, to conduct and...
Mathew anak Medan and police
Police
The police is a personification of the state designated to put in practice the enforced law, protect property and reduce civil disorder in civilian matters. Their powers include the legitimized use of force...
detective Sarjan R. Sagadevan and the gunshot wounds incurred by Sarjan Ukoon anak Pungkok. Zaini claimed the allegations were made by groups with a political agenda
Political agenda
A political agenda is a set of issues and policies laid out by an executive or cabinet in government that tries to influence current and near-future political news and debate....
. He claimed the allegations had belittled the sacrifices of the security forces and was most disgusting and humiliating to the security forces whose achievements and devotion to duty had received world recognition.
Post military life
Zaini was appointed a DirectorBoard of directors
A board of directors is a body of elected or appointed members who jointly oversee the activities of a company or organization. Other names include board of governors, board of managers, board of regents, board of trustees, and board of visitors...
of Opcom Holdings Berhad on 12 September 2003 and made Chairman of the Audit Committee. He is also a Director of a public listed company, AV Ventures Corporation Berhad (formerly known as Autoindustries Ventures Berhad). He is presently the Chairman of RMS Technology Sdn. Bhd.
Zaini was quoted by the Agence France Presse, 3 February 2002 as saying that a military conflict may break out if the issue of water supply between Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
and Malaysia is not resolved properly. "In this context, it is crucial the issue of water is addressed with caution by the leaders and the governments of the two countries. A military conflict must be avoided because it will only hurt both countries," he was quoted as saying in the Mingguan Malaysia
Utusan Malaysia
Utusan Malaysia is a Malay language pro-government newspaper in Malaysia. First published in Jawi, the newspaper is now published in romanised letters...
.
Honours
Zaini was awarded the Seri Pahlawan Gagah PerkasaSeri Pahlawan Gagah Perkasa
The Seri Pahlawan Gagah Perkasa is the highest federal award which can be presented in Malaysia. It was created on 29 July 1960 and was gazetted on 11 August 1969....
(SP), Malaysia's highest gallantry award for his role during the Al Mau'nah siege.