Chief of Defence Force (Malaysia)

The Chief of the Defence Forces (Abbr.: CDF, Malay: Panglima Angkatan Tentera, Jawi: ڤڠليما اڠکتن تنترا‎) is the professional head of the Malaysian Armed Forces and serves as the highest-ranking military officer in the country, second only to the King of Malaysia (Yang di-Pertuan Agong), who is constitutionally designated as the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces.

The Chief of the Defence Forces functions as the principal military adviser to the King of Malaysia, the Prime Minister, and the Minister of Defence. The office is headquartered at Wisma Kementah, located within Camp Mindef (Malay: Kem Kementah), Kuala Lumpur, adjacent to the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) complex.

Informally referred to as Perintah Ulung (lit. 'Superior Command'), the Chief of the Defence Forces is a key member of the Armed Forces Council, which includes the Minister of Defence, the King's representative, the Chief of Army, the Chief of Navy, the Chief of Air Force, the Chief of Staff, and other senior defence officials.

The position may be filled by a senior officer from any of the three service branches: the Malaysian Army, the Royal Malaysian Navy, or the Royal Malaysian Air Force. The title Panglima Angkatan Tentera (PAT) replaced the earlier designation Ketua Turus Angkatan Tentera (KTAT, Chief of Armed Forces Staff) in the early 1980s.

The role is the direct successor to the General Officer Commanding of Malaya Command, which was reorganised following Malaya's independence on 31 August 1957. Its final commander, Major General Frank Hastings Brooke, continued to lead the national force after the dissolution of Malaya Command, which was succeeded by the Malayan Armed Forces, the precursor to the present-day Malaysian Armed Forces.