Grateful for quick action by embassy staff

WHEN stationed abroad, Malaysian diplomats, especially the ambassadors, have multiple tasks. Among others they have to explain the Government’s policy to the host country, attend formal functions and arrange visas for travellers to Malaysia. Protocol-wise, a Malay­sian ambassador is the country’s highest-ranking representative in a foreign land with which she has diplomatic ties. In summary, they all have to represent the interests and policies of Malaysia and to take care of Malaysians in the host country.

My family and I are indebted to the Malaysian Ambassador to Cuba and his staff for their efforts to help trace my daughter who had seemingly gone missing. As a researcher of a German-based university, she had gone to Cuba to gather data on a housing system involving socialist countries for her project. We communicated almost every day via email.