Re: Ambassador-designate to USA

There seems to be some concern about the appointment of a former minister, Dato' Seri Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz as the ambassador to the US. Nazri has already received his credentials and there has been some media coverage of the ceremony where several other heads of mission also received their credentials. It is a done thing and it would be helpful for both Malaysia and Nazri if he can proceed to Washington DC and take up his assignment as early as possible.

As a former diplomat myself I have some understanding of how the process of appointing an ambassador works. Malaysia, as the sending state would submit the name and details of the candidate chosen to be head of mission to the receiving state. In Nazri’s case it would be to the US government. When the receiving state finds that the nominee is not unacceptable then agreement is given. This is a process that can take an unspecified time, even months.

In this particular instance, Nazri has obviously obtained not only the agreement but also his credentials.

At this stage the least that one can do is to wish him well in carrying out his important duties. To question his appointment or his suitability because he has a particular affiliation does not help him or the country.

With more than six decades of experience in appointing selected individuals to head-of-mission posts both our government and Wismaputra have finessed the process. Some of our most illustrious people have served, at different times, as ambassador to Washington.

Our first ambassador there was Tun Dr Ismail bin Dato Abdul Rahman. When he was appointed in 1957 he was also concurrently accredited to Canada and also served as the Permanent Representative of the country to the United Nations. His deputies were Tun Ismail Ali who later became the first Malaysian Governor of our Central Bank and Tuanku Jaafar Tuanku Abdul Rahman who was later to become the Yang dipertuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan and for five years served as the Yang dipertuan Agong.

Dr Ismail bought for the government four properties to accommodate the chancery, the ambassador and the two senior deputies. Due to the lack of proper maintenance of the residences purchased for the two senior deputies the properties had to be written and sold off. The ambassador’s residence, the first brick house built in Rock Creek Park on a four-acre piece of land by former vice president Al Gore’s grandfather remains the government’s property. The chancery had in the late 1990s moved out of 2400 Massachusetts Avenue to a different location.

Nazri does have important responsibilities to fulfil and we should trust he will do his best to further the interest of our beloved nation.

M Santhananaban

February 10, 2023