How do you get a Deputy Prime Minister* to give you RM 500 million (USD 105M)?

By having the guts & conviction of a Tiger General. 👇🏻

Several months ago, I interviewed General Tan Sri (Dr)’ Borhan bin Ahmad (Retired): a retired 4 star General & former Chief of Defence Forces in Malaysia - the highest military rank that one can attain.

⚔️ This was the 82-year-old man who had:

• Established Malaysia’s special forces in the mid-1960s;
• Fought in the Congos, the Vietnam War (escaping days before the fall of Saigon) & Malaysia’s Undeclared War;
• Swam from Singapore to Johor because the British said that Malaysians could never become Commandos.

And we’re just getting started. 

I don’t want to spoil his epic story, so you’ll just have to listen to it yourself!

Highlights: 

• 1:43 Growing up under Japanese occupation
• 3:54 Pretending he had died
• 5:29 Running away to military school
• 6:27 Military life
• 7:41 Swimming through shark-infested waters from Pangkor Laut to Pulau Pangkor
• 8:56 Swimming from Singapore to Johor to prove that the Malaysians could be Commandos too (to the British)
• 9:51 Almost studying medicine
• 11:59 Being transformed into a professional soldier
• 12:49 Military strategies he learned
• 15:40 What’s it like to kill someone?
• 16:12 Was the General ever afraid of death?
• 17:40 Be cruel in order to be kind
• 18:28 What makes a good officer?
• 19:51 Fighting in the Congos
• 23:18 Fighting in Malaysia’s Undeclared War
• 27:08 Founding the Malaysian Special Forces
• 26:43 What makes a Commando?
• 27:52 The General’s toughest operation
• 30:49 A father + 3 sons
• 32:36 Fighting in the Vietnam War
• 38:43 Giving up the Green Beret
• 41:05 What is your leadership style? 
• 41:58 The greatest leader he ever met
• 44:44 Just join the system? 
• 45:56 His greatest achievement as the Chief of Defence Forces
• 47:00 Finding a treasure trove of oysters + getting Anuar to give him RM 500 million!
• 49:02 Being threatened with court-martial 
• 50:26 What he thinks of the Malaysian special forces today 
• 54:29 The General’s greatest regret 
• 55:35 Advice for those who want to be Commandos

Special thanks to Lt Col Assoc Prof Dr. Ananthan (Retired), National Defence University of Malaysia, for making this interview possible.

P/S: The General has his own book out. DM me if you’d like to get a copy!

📍Show notes: www.sothisismywhy.com/92   

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