Tributes for late ex MAF Chief Ghazali Che Mat pour in – and many didn’t know him!

Malaysia’s Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob paying his tribute to the late Gen (B) Tan Sri Mohd Ghazali Che Mat, former Chief of the Malaysian Armed Forces who died on July 7. Photo courtesy of DPM Facebook.

SUBANG JAYA, July 9 – Tributes continued to pour for Tan Sri Mohd Ghazali Che Mat, the former Malaysian Armed Forces Chief who died on Wednesday, July 7.

Strange thing is many of these tributes are coming from those who did not know him. Seems like his reputation is growing more in honour, as stories of the principles he lived by started to fill the social media since his death.

Those who worked with him and have had the privy to some of the things he has said and done, have written some heart-warming stories about how he had stood up against racism and lived his life by beyond the shackles created in the name of race and religion.

One was written by the former New Straits Times Editor-in-Chief Datuk Seri Kalimullah Hassan who recalled how the late Mohd Ghazali put his foot down to stop a racist act from taking control of a situation.

The full story is in : https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2021/07/706473/ghazali-che-mat-true-patriot-heart-all-malaysians

A Weekly Echo reader sent in the story from Straits Times, saying how it touched his heart to read about a man who was not only righteous but was truly brave in sticking to his conviction despite opposing views.

In this time when Malaysians are really at a cross-junction in so many ways, whether political-wise, economy and even plain survival, this story uplifted me, said Perumal, a former school teacher.

He hoped more Malaysians would read about him and know that a Malay had stood up for a non-Malay and believed in fair play not only in the work zone but all other areas of life.

“This is how all Malaysians should live. Like a brave soldier that he was, Malaysians from the younger should emulate him. Understand the real quality of how a man should be. I salute him,” said Perumal.

-WE