K. Thanabalasingam

K. Thanabalasingam was the third chief of the Royal Malaysian Navy and the first Malaysian to be appointed to the post. To date, he remains the youngest and longest serving RMN chief, as well as the only non-Malay service chief.

Biography Thanabalasingam joined the British Royal Malayan Navy, which was then under British control, in May 1955.

The British Royal Malayan Navy and all its assets (the ships, the bases and jetties and personnel) were merged with the existing Malayan Navy and from then on it became Malayan owned and administered. This new entity was named Royal Malayan Navy, and the designation “Royal” was a reference to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong. He ventured subsequently into private business. He currently lives in Kuala Lumpur.

Honours Honours of Malaysia

Malaysian Armed Forces

50px Knight Companion of the Order of the Crown of Pahang (DIMP) – Dato'

Foreign Honour