Nazri named as ambassador to US

 

Former Umno MP Nazri Abdul Aziz has been appointed as Malaysia's ambassador to the US.

In a statement, the Foreign Ministry said the Yang di-Pertuan Agong has presented a letter of credence to Nazri (above) and nine other heads of diplomatic missions during a ceremony held at Istana Negara today.

"Nazri graduated from Lincoln’s Inn in the United Kingdom and has vast experience serving in previous cabinets," said the ministry.

Last June, Nazri dismissed speculation that he would be made US ambassador.

He also announced in 2021 that he would not contest in the 15th general election after serving six terms as a parliamentarian.

He was first elected as Chenderoh MP in 1995 and retained that seat in the 1999 election, before taking on the new Padang Rengas constituency which he won in four consecutive elections.

Prior to that, he was appointed to the Dewan Negara in 1990.

He previously served as a tourism and culture minister, minister in the Prime Minister's Department in charge of legal affairs, and entrepreneur development minister.

Other newly appointed Malaysian ambassadors and high commissioners included:

1. Syed Md Hasrin Tengku Hussin (Indonesia)

2. Abdul Malik Melvin Castelino Anthony (Philippines)

3. Hendy Assan (Holy See)

4. Hafizah Abdullah (Sweden)

5. Gloria Corina Peter Tiwet (Brazil)

6. Ruzaimi Mohamad (Kenya)

7. Suzilah Mohd Sidek (Czech Republic)

8. Amarjit Singh Sarjit Singh (Timor-Leste)

9. Alauddin Mohd Nor (Kuwait)

It has been a practice by the government for senior or retired politicians to be named special envoys or ambassadors and some of them have enjoyed the same perks as federal ministers.

The late former MIC president S Samy Vellu was made special envoy of infrastructure to India and South Asia while former MCA president Ong Ka Ting was appointed as a special envoy to China, both in 2011.

DAP’s Cheras MP Tan Kok Wai was appointed special envoy to China in August 2018.

Special envoys during the Perikatan Nasional government included Abdul Hadi Awang (Middle East), Tiong King Sing (China), Richard Riot (Japan, Korea, and Taiwan) and S Vigneswaran (India and South Asia). - Mkini