Fajarasia, co – Malaysia will appoint five new heads of diplomatic missions (Mala Representative), including those for Indonesia, Saudi Arabia and Japan.
The mission heads will receive their letter of appointment from Malaysia’s King Sultan Abdullah on June 20.
Foreign Minister Saifuddin Abdullah said the remaining 24 vacancies for heads of missions, including to Australia and New Zealand, were being finalized.
“These five people have received approval from the host country,” he said, as quoted by Bernama, Friday (10/6/2022).
Saifuddin explained that the vacancy was due to some entering retirement and the COVID-19 pandemic which made it impossible to transfer employees.
He added that the same problem was experienced by other countries and it was seen when a large number of heads of foreign missions to Malaysia submitted their credentials to the King of Malaysia recently.
“It’s very rare that more than 20 (mission heads) submit their credentials at the same time,” he said.
Previously Director General of Public Services Mohd Shafiq Abdullah said that the Department of Public Services (JPA) was in talks with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to immediately fill 29 vacancies for heads of missions abroad.
Mohd Shafiq said that currently the vacancies are filled by ad interim chargeors.
For the record, Malaysia has 107 representatives abroad with some heads of missions and the rest being consul generals.****
