In 1974, upon completion of his cadet training in Sandhurst, he was first commissioned as a second lieutenant to the 2nd Royal Malay Regiment as a platoon commander on 9 August 1974.

He was promoted to the rank of brigadier general in 2002 had been hold the office of assistant commander of Reserve Services Division.

[3][4] He was appointed as the 1st Director General of National Security Council (NSC; Malay: Majlis Keselamatan Negara — MKN) on 15 August 2016, when he still holding the post of Chief of Defence Forces.

[7] He was replaced by Engku Hamzah Tuan Mat as director general of NSC beginning 1 September 2018.

[8] He is married to Puan Sri Datin Seri Umi Kalsom Wan Awang and together had two daughters.