PUTRAJAYA, 11 Nov 2024 – Major General Dato’ Dr. A. Endry Nixon (Retired) was invited to present an insightful lecture on the leadership of General Arthur Percival during the Malaya Campaign of the Second World War, providing a lasting lesson to the MAFSC Course Participants (CPs). This lecture is part of the essence of the officer’s Leadership and Ethics Module (OLEM) semester 3. His analysis outlines the vital role of preparation, strategic foresight and leadership accountability, offering valuable insights to shape our approach as future leaders.

This lecture also examines Percival’s strategy and decisions, highlighting the consequences of inadequate planning at critical moments. Dr. Nixon’s core message was clearly ‘failed to plan, in essence, to plan to fail’. This lesson is a powerful reminder of the need for careful preparation and adaptability, especially as we move into more challenging roles.

In closing, Dr. Nixon emphasized that lessons and experiences from past military history will be important as we advance in our careers, guiding all CPs to make sound and responsible decisions consistent with our duties as leaders.