PUCHONG: The candidate to fill the vacant role of Malaysia’s ambassador to the United States has been identified, says Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
“As per the usual process, it will have to be consented to by the King,” he said when met by reporters after performing Friday prayers here yesterday.
Consent to the appointment is expected to be received after Anwar’s official visit to Bahrain next week.
This comes after Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz’s two-year term as ambassador to the United States ended on Feb 8.
Earlier yesterday, former Permatang Pauh MP Nurul Izzah Anwar was reported as saying that Malaysia’s next envoy to the United States should be a robust and deeply prepared ambassador.The PKR vice-president said this was necessary to navigate challenging international relations. Last week, former Bangi MP Ong Kian Ming proposed five figures for Putrajaya’s consideration for the position, including Nurul Izzah and Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz.
Separately, Anwar reiterated that no other country should dictate the future of Palestinians.
He said Malaysia stood firm together with Arab and Muslim nations on the matter, and that the rights of the people of Gaza and Palestine to rebuild their country freely and independently must be defended and upheld.
“No other country has any right to determine the future of Palestinians,” he said.
This comes after US President Donald Trump recently doubled down on his idea of exiling Palestinians and placing a rebuilt Gaza under “US authority” but faced pushback from visiting Jordanian King Abdullah II.
“I reiterated Jordan’s steadfast position against the displacement of Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank. This is the unified Arab position.
“Rebuilding Gaza without displacing the Palestinians and addressing the dire humanitarian situation should be the priority for all,” King Abdullah said on social media after the talks.
Previously, Trump stunned the world after proposing that the United States “take over” Gaza, envisioning rebuilding the devastated territory into the “Riviera of the Middle East” but only after resettling Palestinians elsewhere, with no plan for them to ever return.
