From The Star today
Saturday January 24, 2009
Long wait to fill Washington, Jakarta diplomat posts
PETALING JAYA: Two important diplomatic postings — Washington and Jakarta — are still waiting to be filled following alleged political interference and lobbying for the ambassadors’ posts.The Washington post has been vacant since last June following the retirement of ambassador Datuk Rajmah Hussain, while the present ambassador to Jakarta, Datuk Zainal Abidin Zain, will retire in the middle of next month.
The Washington Times reported last month that the Malaysian Government had submitted Tan Sri Ghazzali Sheikh Khalid’s name last September.Ghazzali was the Malaysian ambassador to Washington from 1999 to 2006. He became ambassador-at-large when he returned home.
It is understood that the Prime Minister’s Office had proposed his name although Wisma Putra had its own candidate.
Diplomatic sources in Washington said the United States had yet to give approval to Ghazzali serving a second term as ambassador.A source said that if three months passed without consent, diplomatic convention suggests that the host has a problem with the nomination, and Malaysia may have to submit another name.Wisma Putra officials confirmed that the Government had yet to propose an alternative candidate.For the Jakarta posting, two former ministers are said to be eyeing the post and lobbying Putrajaya but until today, no name has been submitted to Indonesia for approval.
Observers said that with the two countries being major partners, it would be crucial that the candidates for the ambassadors’ posts were accepted by the host governments. A senior government official said the Washington post should not be left vacant for too long. “While other diplomats are building their network with President Barack Obama’s administration, we are left with no ambassador,” he said. “As for Indonesia, a former minister claims that he knows many journalists and the ‘big guns’ there. “He feels that he can build bridges and strengthen bilateral ties, but, frankly speaking, nothing much (on the nomination) has been done.” The official also said it would not be easy for a political appointee to take up the post in Jakarta with the presence of many international organisations there.
“You need experienced diplomats to handle such responsibilities.”If a politician takes up the Jakarta posting, it would not be the first time. Tan Sri Mohamed Rahmat served as ambassador with ministerial ranking in the 1980s.
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Too many politicking.....
