PUCHONG — The government has identified a candidate for Malaysia’s Ambassador to the United States and is in the process of obtaining the consent of His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said obtaining royal consent is a standard procedure for such appointments, and His Majesty will carry it out soon, Bernama reported him saying.
“The candidate has been identified, and the process is in place. InshaAllah, once I return from Bahrain, I will submit the name to the King and seek His Majesty’s consent,” Anwar told reporters after performing Friday prayers at Masjid As-Salam in Puchong Perdana today.
Anwar was responding to questions regarding the replacement for Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz, whose two-year tenure as Malaysia’s Ambassador to the US ended last Sunday.
Mohamed Nazri assumed the role on Feb 9, 2023, and according to a statement from the Foreign Ministry, his appointment was based on his extensive experience in government administration.
He courted controversy among some Malaysians in his final weeks on the job, when, in January, his wife posted to social media a photo of him holding a “Make America Great Again” poster on the eve of US President Donald Trump’s inauguration.
Former Malaysian ambassador Dennis Igantius described Nazri’s actions as “unbecoming” and in breach of protocol and diplomatic practice.
Nazri, however, rebuffed critics, saying there were no diplomatic consequences to his actions as the US welcomed foreigners who supported making the country “great”. – February 14, 2025