KUALA LUMPUR: For more than 30 years, the Bentong native travelled the globe for Malaysia as a diplomat.
However, when he hit his career peak after being appointed Wisma Putra’s chief diplomat, he was ironically “grounded” by the Covid-19 pandemic.
As the Foreign Ministry secretary-general from 2019, Tan Sri Muhammad Shahrul Ikram Yaakob (pic) found himself confined to Malaysia’s borders.
Unable to travel to meet Malaysia’s friends, he relied on virtual diplomacy to get various important tasks done.
“I think that it might be more important for future secretaries-general to master online settings over principles of international relations,” the father of four said with a laugh during a farewell interview ahead of his last day in office tomorrow.
“I continue to reflect upon my privilege of being Wisma Putra’s only secretary-general to be confined within the domestic borders for most of my tenure,” he said, adding that his job scope was redefined beyond his “wildest imagination” by the increasing use of virtual diplomacy.
Shahrul Ikram’s tenure as secretary-general was extended after he reached the retirement age last May.
It was an eventful period. He helped evacuate hundreds of Malaysians abroad at the height of the pandemic from Wuhan in China and from India, Italy and Peru.
The ministry also helped to secure Covid-19 vaccine doses and medical equipment for Malaysia.
He said even during such turbulent times, Wisma Putra could reflect on its many successes, which he hopes will be the source of motivation to all the ministry’s officers.
“To be reminded that, at the end of the day, it is all worth our blood, sweat and tears,” he said.
“I can certainly say that we have persevered through what seemed to be the unthinkable and unimaginable, both at home and abroad. We actually had to scramble to make the impossible possible.”
For now and the future, he said Wisma Putra must face up to the reality of changes across the world since the Covid-19 pandemic struck in 2020.
“We must have practical skillsets to enhance our competency as diplomats,” said Shahrul Ikram, 61, whose final overseas assignments was being a member of the Prime Minister’s delegation to Washington and London recently.
Shahrul Ikram is expected to be replaced by the ministry’s deputy secretary-general (bilateral affairs) Datuk Amran Mohamed Zin.
