Tragic loss of a visionary civil servant

NOT many would know that the late Datuk Dr Sundaran Annamalai (pic), who died in the helicopter crash in Sarawak, was among those who were primarily responsible for the World Bank setting up an office in Kuala Lumpur.

During his stint in the World Bank as executive director in charge of South-East Asia, he helped formulate policies in several countries including Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, Brunei, Vietnam, Lao PDR, and Myanmar. His job with the World Bank also took him to Nepal, Fiji and Tonga.