RADM Dato’ Fadzilah bin Mohd Salleh Appointed as Chief Hydrographer of Malaysia

Rear Admiral Dato’ Fadzilah Bin Mohd Salleh has been appointed as the 6th Chief Hydrographer of Malaysia. He took over the position from Rear Admiral Dato’ Pahlawan Zaaim Bin Hassan who retired from his active service of the Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN).

Rear Admiral Dato’ Fadzilah started his military career in September 1977 as a Naval Cadet Officer and later was commission as a Sub Lieutenant of the RMN in May 1980. He was promoted to the current rank on 1 November 2014.  His career with the RMN hydrographic branch started after he successfully completed the Basic Hydrographic Survey Course in the Royal Australian Hydrographic School, HMAS Penguin, Sydney, Australia, in 1982. Later he then attended few other courses in related discipline such Nautical Charting course organised by Japan Hydrographic Department, Nautical Cartography training attachment in New Zealand Hydrographic Office and Computer Aided Cartography in CARIS Headquarters, Fredericton, Canada. He attended Long Hydrographic Survey Course in HMS DRAKE, United Kingdom in 1990. He also attended other military professional courses including a Military Staff Collage in 1996. He hold a Master of Science Degree (MSc) in Strategic and Security Studies from the National University of Malaysia.

Pioneering Cartography

Throughout his career in the RMN, Rear Admiral Dato’ Fadzilah had served various appointment at sea and ashore where majority of it was within the hydrographic circle. He was also among the pioneer in setting up cartographic section of the RMN when it was established in 1984. Among the notable appointments held by him was as the Head of Charting, the Director of National Hydrographic Centre  and the commanding officer of  KD Perantau in 2001- 2003 where he was also a Senior officer of the RMN Hydrographic squadron.

In 2007 he was seconded to the Attorney General Chambers of Malaysia as a research officer and later appointed as an Expert Council of Multi Discipline (Maritime) before returning to RMN in November 2016. During his tenure of service in the Attorney Generals Chambers, Rear Admiral Dato’ Fadzilah has involved and participated in several technical committees at national and international level dealing with maritime matters especially in negotiation on maritime boundaries delimitation and issue with neighbouring countries Indonesia, Singapore, Vietnam  and also South China Sea. He also participated actively in national and international conferences, workshops and seminar particularly with regards to maritime matters.

In recognition of his loyalty, dedication and contribution to the service Rear Admiral Dato’ Fadzilah has been bestowed with several medals and awards from Armed Forces, States and Federal government such as Panglima Setia Angkatan Tentera (PSAT), Darjah Setia DiRaja Kedah (DSDK) which carries a title ‘Dato’, Pahlawan Angkatan Tentera (PAT), Johan Setia Mahkota (JSM), Kesatria Angkatan Tentera (KAT), Kesatria Mangku Negara (KMN), Bintang Cemerlang Kedah (BCK) and Pingat Jasa Malaysia (PJM).