Chegubard ‘amazed’ how polygamist army top brass can get away without declaring their marital status
IT IS a grave offence for Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF) personnel – whether army, navy or air force – to enter into a second/third marriage without making an official declaration based on the Armed Forces Act 1972 (Act 77) and the MAF administrative regulations.
This is given that marriage is NOT a completely private matter for any armed forces members (especially senior officers) but instead one’s marital status is official service information which requires (i) request for permission; (ii) notification in writing; and (iii) making declaration in service record.
Such was the revelation by Opposition activist Badrul Hisham Shaharin a.k.a. Chegubard in light of former army chief Tan Sri Hafizuddeain Jantan having three wives of whom the third, Salwani Anuar @ Kamaruddin, 27, has recently been charged at the Kuala Lumpur and Kuala Terengganu Sessions Courts respectively for purportedly abetting with him in two separate money laundering cases.
In fact, Hafizuddeain and his first and second wives had earlier been detained by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) over an investigation into an army procurement cartel.
Hafizuddeain had pleaded not guilty at the KL Sessions Court to four counts of money laundering involving RM2.12 mil. He is accused of receiving the funds in four tranches between Feb 2, 2024, and Nov 7, 2025 at two banks in KL
“The offences become more serious, especially for senior officers, if marital status is used for personal gain entailing allowances, facilities, protection or influence,” penned the central Bersatu information committee member and political influencer in a Facebook post.
“This is because senior officers are viewed as leadership role model, hence are bound by the principles of integrity, trust and command responsibility.”
Potential punishments
Specifically, Chegubard drew attention to three provisions under the Armed Forces Act 1972 that are commonly used to nail offenders:
Section 87 for conduct prejudicial to the discipline or good name of the Armed Forces
Not declaring marriage is construed as having deceived the administration, misled official records and damaged integrity of the service.
Section 91 for providing false/misleading information
Deliberately concealing marital status or fills out official forms with false information can be considered as service fraud.
Section 132 for abuse of position
Offenses become more serious, especially for senior officers, if marital status is used for personal gain and involved allowances, facilities, protection or influence.
Nampaknya Hafizudin Jantan bekas Panglima Tentera Darat Malaysia sengaja mengalih perhatian dari terus membongkar kartel.
Kita sendiri hanya fokus isu korupsi besar dengan mengenepikan banyak kisah cebisan lain.
Sebelum ini kita tidak sama sekali bangkitkan bagaimana dia kenal dengan Wani di Kelab Karaoke di Sabah sekitar Oktober 2024 dan selepas itu terus kerap ke luar negara bersama.
...See moreDepending on the investigation and degree of the offence, Chegubard who was instrumental in getting Hafizuddeain, 58, charged on the four counts of money laundering involving RM2.12 mil outlined the potential penalties as follows:
Administrative punishment: Written warning, formal reprimand, lowering of seniority and rejection of course/promotion application.
Disciplinary punishment/court martial: If the case is serious or a repeated offence, action can be in the form of demotion, removal of position, salary/allowance cut, dismissal from service and conviction by court martial.
Additional punishment (if other elements exist): If accompanied by financial embezzlement, abuse of power, corruption/bribery or family allowance fraud, the offence can be investigated under civil laws/separate criminal procedure.
Opposition activist Badrul Hisham Shaharin a.k.a. Chegubard (in green shirt)
Against such legal recourse, Chegubard wondered if the two-star army security officers at the army headquarters had not previously advised Hafizuddeian who married a second and third time and often bring his spouses “in and outside the country” to declare his marital status as stipulated in the first division command of the Malaysian Armed Forces.
“Here, a senior officer in the security department who is found to have conspired to cover up the wrongdoing of a superior officer CAN and MUST be punished under military law and civil law, depending on the nature of the act, intent and effect,” claimed the Bersatu Port Dickson division head.
“The excuse of ‘I followed orders’ is NOT a defence. At the end of the day, our national security collapses not because of enemies from the outside but because of leaders who are willing to remain tightlipped” – Jan 28, 2026
Against such legal recourse, Chegubard wondered if the two-star army security officers at the army headquarters had not previously advised Hafizuddeian who married a second and third time and often bring his spouses “in and outside the country” to declare his marital status as stipulated in the first division command of the Malaysian Armed Forces.
“Here, a senior officer in the security department who is found to have conspired to cover up the wrongdoing of a superior officer CAN and MUST be punished under military law and civil law, depending on the nature of the act, intent and effect,” claimed the Bersatu Port Dickson division head.
“The excuse of ‘I followed orders’ is NOT a defence. At the end of the day, our national security collapses not because of enemies from the outside but because of leaders who are willing to remain tightlipped” – Jan 28, 2026
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Wakakaka, he thought as the Armed Forces No 1, he could do anything, and to frigg with procedures meant for the lowly mortals. But THREE (3) wives - golly, that's way way way over the frigging top lah!
My Unc (ex military) told me that in his old days before the Armed Forces Act 1972, there was a "catch-all" military law that could get anyone & everyone into hot soup, namely MRE Section 37 (Malay Regiment Enactment Section 37) - alas, I wasn't able to goggle what that Section said.
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