The communist troops were on higher ground and had Ghazali’s platoon pinned down. Realizing his men could be picked off one by one, Ghazali and one of his men, Private Hassan Selati, rushed the enemy and opened fire. They killed two of the CPM troops and the rest dispersed in a flurry.

As a result, Ghazali was awarded the country’s highest medal for bravery the Seri Pahlawan Gagah Perkasa on the first anniversary of Independence on Aug 31, 1958. Tan Sri Ghazali Che Mat went on to become Chief of Defence Forces. He passed away today, aged 89.

I am privileged to have known Gen Ghazali for many years. I’d like to share a story about him when he was chairman of the New Straits Times and I it’s Editor in Chief. I had appointed Brendan Perera, an Indian Catholic, as Group Editor but that did not sit well with some right wing Umno leaders and ministers who had friends in the board.

At one board meeting, I think a year after Brendan was appointed, the board members agitated for Brendan to be sacked. It was a stormy meeting with directors split almost evenly. Ghazali, who had remained silent, suddenly banged the table when one director said “it’s an Umno newspaper. We can’t have an Indian running it.”

“Enough. I am a soldier. I fought alongside Indians, Chinese, Sikhs, Ibans, Eurasians… they spilled their blood for this country. “I will not listen to anymore of this. Brendan stays,” he said. The vocal directors were stunned into silence and bowed their heads - perhaps in embarrassment, perhaps in shame. That was Tan Sri Ghazali Che Mat. Rest In Peace General. May Allah swt place you among his