Malaysia air force confirms misconduct by 20 officers, vows firm action under military law

KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA: The Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) has confirmed that 20 of its officers were directly involved in immoral activity, following preliminary investigations into allegations of misconduct at military camps.

RMAF Chief Muhammad Norazlan Aris said those responsible would be tried and judged in accordance with the laws and legal provisions governing the Malaysian Armed Forces.

In a statement issued on 10 January 2026, Norazlan said the air force viewed any violation of orders, directives, and regulations as a serious matter requiring firm and uncompromising action.

He added that the RMAF leadership regretted the incident and stressed that officers who failed to implement or enforce existing instructions would also be held accountable.

Norazlan rejected suggestions that the alleged behaviour represented an accepted practice within the service, saying the so-called “yeye culture” was not part of RMAF traditions or values.

Viral posts allege long-standing misconduct at air force camp

The statements followed the circulation of several videos online that purportedly showed entertainment activities and the presence of minibars within military camps.

Some of the videos, said to have been filmed at Subang Air Base, showed individuals seated at what appeared to be a bar, with one clip depicting behaviour described by social media users as inappropriate.

The Ministry of Defence said on 5 January 2026 that it had instructed the Malaysian Armed Forces to carry out an immediate internal investigation to verify the authenticity of the claims.

The official response came after a series of social media posts accused personnel linked to an RMAF camp of long-standing immoral practices spanning several years.

Among the allegations were claims that alcohol had been purchased for consumption within camps and that civilian women were brought onto military premises, allegedly for senior officers.

A now-deleted TikTok account claimed such practices had existed for decades and had spread to other parts of the civil service, citing unspecified historical cases.

Other posts alleged unrestricted access to karaoke lounges and clubs, and claimed that lists of civilian women were prepared for entry into the camp.

According to these claims, some of the women were students from outside the local area, although no evidence has been publicly produced to substantiate the assertions.

Several posts also expressed concern for the families of married officers alleged to have been involved in the activities.

The allegations were said to have been brought to light by a young officer who claimed he could no longer tolerate what he described as a corrupt internal culture.

Following the online disclosures, observers questioned whether decisive and transparent disciplinary measures would follow the revelations.

Malaysia detains former army chief and family as corruption probe widens into military contracts tender

The controversy has emerged during a period of heightened public scrutiny of Malaysia’s armed forces due to a separate investigation led by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).

Former army chief Hafizuddeain Jantan and his two wives were previously remanded to assist in investigations into an alleged procurement tender cartel involving the army.

On 23 December 2025, MACC expanded its probe to include the Ministry of Defence, focusing on projects awarded through open tenders.

The commission said these projects were managed by the Army Responsibility Centre and formed a central component of the investigation.

MACC also disclosed that it was examining large cash inflows into the bank accounts of a senior military officer and several family members.

The funds raised suspicion due to their size and frequency, with reports alleging transfers from accounts linked to around 40 companies.

These companies were said to have secured contracts related to military procurement, although investigations remain ongoing.

As part of the probe, MACC officers reportedly raided both the office and official residence of the officer involved.