Ep 92: Life of a 4 Star General Who Founded the Malaysian Special Forces | General Tan Sri (Dr) Borhan bin Ahmad (former Chief of Defence Forces, Malaysia)

How do you get a Deputy Prime Minister* to give you RM 500 million (USD 105M)?By having the guts & conviction of a Tiger General. 👇🏻Several months ago, I interviewed General Tan Sri (Dr)’ Borhan bin Ahmad (Retired): a retired 4 star General & former Chief of Defence Forces in Malaysia - the highest military rank that one can attain.⚔️ This was the 82-year-old man who had:Established Malaysia’s special forces in the mid-1960s;Fought in the Congos, the Vietnam War (escaping days before the fall of Saigon) & Malaysia’s Undeclared War;Swam from Singapore to Johor because the British said that Malaysians could never become Commandos.And we’re just getting started. I don’t want to spoil his epic story, so you’ll just have to listen to it yourself!Highlights: 1:43 Growing up under Japanese occupation3:54 Pretending he had died5:29 Running away to military school6:27 Military life7:41 Swimming through shark-infested waters from Pangkor Laut to Pulau Pangkor8:56 Swimming from Singapore to Johor to prove that the Malaysians could be Commandos too (to the British)9:51 Almost studying medicine11:59 Being transformed into a professional soldier12:49 Military strategies he learned15:40 What’s it like to kill someone?16:12 Was the General ever afraid of death?17:40 Be cruel in order to be kind18:28 What makes a good officer?19:51 Fighting in the Congos23:18 Fighting in Malaysia’s Undeclared War27:08 Founding the Malaysian Special Forces26:43 What makes a Commando?27:52 The General’s toughest operation30:49 A father + 3 sons32:36 Fighting in the Vietnam War38:43 Giving up the Green Beret41:05 What is your leadership style? 41:58 The greatest leader he ever met44:44 Just join the system? 45:56 His greatest achievement as the Chief of Defence Forces47:00 Finding a treasure trove of oysters + getting Anuar to give him RM 500 million!49:02 Being threatened with court-martial 50:26 What he thinks of the Malaysian special forces today 54:29 The General’s greatest regret 55:35 Advice for those who want to be CommandosSpecial thanks to Lt Col Assoc Prof Dr. Ananthan (Retired), National Defence University of Malaysia, for making this interview possible.P/S: The General has his own book out. DM me if you’d like to get a copy!📍Show notes: www.sothisismywhy.com/92   🙊 Like STIMY? Buy us a ☕️?: https://beacons.ai/sothisismywhy 💌 Subscribe to STIMY’s weekly newsletter for exclusive STIMY updates & other interesting people/things I’ve come across during the week: https://sothisismywhy.ck.page/ebf231f605