KUALA LUMPUR – Despite some criticisms, former Padang Rengas MP Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz insists his recent appointment as Malaysia’s ambassador to the United States was not a political “reward” or something unusual, as many of his predecessors were politicians instead of career diplomats.
He said the post of Malaysia’s number one envoy to the US should not necessarily be reserved for those in the diplomatic corps alone, and that such appointments of present and former politicians and leaders are also practised by other developed nations.
“For example, Australia has just appointed (former prime minister) Kevin Rudd as its ambassador to the US.
“From there, you can understand the importance of the ambassador’s personality.
“History has shown that since (Malaysia’s) independence, we’ve had so many politicians (taking on the role),” he told The Vibes when met recently.
“Our first ambassador there was Tun Ismail Abdul Rahman, who later became deputy prime minister.
He was already involved in politics, but he was sent there immediately after Merdeka.”
Nazri, who will be leaving for Washington D.C. on March 2 before reporting in for his first day of work on March 8, was responding to brickbats he received about the appointment.
His critics include the likes of former high-ranking diplomats such as Datuk Noor Farida Ariffin and Dennis Ignatius, who described the appointment as “disappointing” as they believed the opportunity should be accorded to career diplomats.
However, Nazri hit back at Farida, claiming that she is not a career diplomat and suggesting that the ability to navigate the corridors of power could be enhanced with the presence of an experienced politician.
“I have to mention that Farida herself was never from the diplomatic corps (to begin with), as she was from the Attorney-General’s Chambers.
In order to work on (previous) island disputes with Indonesia and to make it convenient for her to defend our interests, she was made an ambassador. So how is it that she can say she is from the diplomatic corps?
“To say such posts should only be reserved for career diplomats… I’m sure they don’t want to think it’s their bowl of rice that we (politicians) take away because serving as ambassador is not about the money, it’s a service for the country.
“You have to deal with lobbyists, which includes congressmen and senators, some of the people that career diplomats may not necessarily have access to,” he said.
‘My presence merely complements PM Anwar’s influence’
On February 12, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said he trusts Nazri will be able to strengthen various collaborations involving Malaysia and the US.
“Previous ambassadors such as the late Tan Sri Jamaluddin Mohd Jarjis and Datuk Seri Awang Adek Hussin fostered not just bilateral ties, but business-to-business and peer-to-peer relations,” Zahid said.
He also expressed confidence that Nazri would be able to arrange meetings with US top government and corporate leaders when Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim visits the country later.
With the criticisms spilling over to Anwar on Nazri’s appointment, the prime minister clarified that it was done a year ago during the previous administration and that it could not be cancelled as “there will be a lot of problems” after the US confirmed the matter.
Asked whether his appointment would help bolster Anwar’s influence in Washington, Nazri said his presence would complement the prime minister’s strong relations with the superpower.
It’s not a political reward, as my name was nominated by the previous government under Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob. And I’ve been approved and accepted by a different government, so how can it be a reward?
“I think my presence is merely to complement whatever impact he (Anwar) has already had when he became prime minister. Seeing how the world leaders have welcomed him, for me it would have been a more difficult task if it was any personality other than Anwar.
“He has bolstered himself already, and it’s so much easier for me to do my work with Anwar as the prime minister.”
Visa-free travel for M’sians among priorities besides trade
After receiving the letter of credence from Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah on February 9, and paying courtesy visits to US ambassador to Malaysia Brian McFeeters and Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan, Nazri says he expects to hit the ground running when he receives his first briefing by Malaysian embassy officials in Washington.
Nazri said removing the Tier 3 standing in the US State Department’s Trafficking In Persons report, improving Malaysia’s palm oil exports, and continuing the government’s efforts on visa-free travel for Malaysians entering the US, are among his main objectives, apart from trade.
As ambassador, I am very concerned about American-Malaysian investments and trade, as the US is currently ranked third as Malaysia's biggest trading partner.”
According to the Office of the United States Trade Representative, US goods and services trade with Malaysia totalled an estimated US$60.1 billion (RM266.5 billion) in 2020.
Exports were US$14.4 billion, and imports were US$45.7 billion. The US goods and services trade deficit with Malaysia was US$31.3 billion in 2020.
Nazri said he is also looking to increase the presence of Malaysian students in the US, as the numbers there currently stand at 12,000 compared to 20,000 more than a decade ago. This came after his meeting with McFeeters on the matter recently.
“I used to be Mara (Majlis Amanah Rakyat) chairman, and we used to have so many students there. We have to increase the exposure of our students, so I will talk to the minister in charge of Mara to send more students there,” he said.
“I hope to receive a briefing from Malaysia’s education attaché in the US to see (the Malaysian government’s requirements on graduates).”
Last rodeo
Asked whether his stint in the US marked an end to his political career, Nazri said he believed it was.
“I don’t want to leave politics by being sacked from my party or losing my deposit. I’ve been in politics since 1978… it’s time to go. I was young before, and I was urging for the young ones to be given a chance, so now do I want to hang on?” he quipped.
I’m 69 years old. I’ve thought about this, and I have been an MP since I was 41-years-old. Before that, I was a senator for two terms since I was 36. So this is my last rodeo… you can imagine me being on a horse and riding out into the sunset, literally.”
Nazri joined politics in 1978 at just 24-years-old, when he was elected as an Umno Youth executive committee member before going on to become Barisan Nasional Youth chief from 1990 to 1994.
He was also an Umno Supreme Council member for 28 years from 1990 to 2018, when the Umno-led Barisan Nasional government lost federal power to Pakatan Harapan.
He has held a number of ministerial positions, being in charge of entrepreneur development (1999 to 2004), legal affairs (2004 to 2013), and tourism and culture (2013 to 2018). – The Vibes, February 27, 2023
