KUALA LUMPUR: It was an award that came 26 years later, but well worth the wait for Gen Tan Sri Ahmad Hasbullah Mohd Nawawi.
The Army chief, 59, was one of seven overseas students pursuing a course at the Canadian Army’s Staff College in June 1993.
Hasbullah, then a major, was among 63 students of Intake 9301 for the course.
On on Dec 5, Hasbullah was inducted into the college’s ‘Hall of Honour’ during a command and staff course regimental dinner in Kingston, Canada.
He received the prestigious award from the college’s commandant Colonel R.T Strickland, making him the first overseas service chief to be honoured.
During the visit, Hasbullah paid courtesy calls on one of his coursemates, Gen Jonathan Holbert ‘Jon’ Vance, who is now the Canadian Armed Forces chief, and Canadian Army chief Lieutenant General Wayne D. Eyre in Ottawa.
Recounting his student days at the college, Hasbullah said enduring the extreme cold of -25 degrees Celsius was a great challenge for him.
“I was already drilled on the mental and physical preparations before my trip to Canada.
“But putting up with the extreme cold was something else,” he said in an interview at the Sungai Besi Camp.
Hasbullah said that he gained tremendous knowledge and character-building techniques as a leader, which charted his military career.
“The college’s honour is also recognition of the high standards of the Malaysian army, as well as fosters well towards bilateral military diplomacy,” said Hasbullah, from Kuala Kangsar, Perak.
On his meeting with Vance, Hasbullah said they exchanged beneficial views and ideas.
On another matter, Hasbullah said that the 87th Army Day would be celebrated at Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, in March.