NEWS that Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz has been appointed as the ambassador to the United States has drawn ire from netizens who questioned Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s wisdom in appointing the UMNO man to the role.
In a statement yesterday, Wisma Putra announced that the former Padang Rengas MP had been presented with the letter of credence by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong along with nine other new heads of diplomatic missions.
Following the appointment, netizens were quick to take to social media to point out that the decision to give Nazri the post is seen as a reversal of the previous Pakatan Harapan (PH) government’s pledge to appoint only diplomats to represent the country’s foreign missions abroad.
Tagging Anwar in his tweet, user @esshankar1 said:
Dakwat belum kering kamu tulis batal 100% lantikan politikus, @NazriAziz bukan MP jadi duta USA? Cakap tak serupa bekin? Apa jadi duta2 kerjaya professional lama diWisma Putra? Gantung sendiri? PH tembak kaki sendiri lagi sekali mcm kontroversi nepotisme?https://t.co/1mJrRKW9VB
— E.S. Shankar (@esshankar1) February 9, 2023
(The ink hasn’t even dried from when you wrote about terminating political appointments. What happened to the career diplomats at Wisma Putra? PH has shot itself in the foot once more, just like during the nepotism controversy)
Echoing the user, @pesalism said:
There goes the empty talk about only appointing career diplomats. Another carrot handed out for whatever backroom role Nazri played in the recent post GE drama.
— HabuHabu (@pesalism) February 9, 2023
User @DrFeroozeAli lamented:
Nazri Aziz being the new Malaysian Ambassador to US is as bad as it gets.
Anwar previously pledge for zero political appointees under PH Gov.
Is Anwar's Gov mimicking UMNO in governing the country ?
No reform in the horizon. pic.twitter.com/fL4p7YkVwy
— Ferooze (@DrFeroozeAli) February 9, 2023
Meanwhile, user @Malacire said:
Incredible. What has he done to deserve this post? What about the pool of Ambassadors in waiting? Nazri is known to be the fire brand, shoot then ask question fella. How does he qualify? It is not fair to the professional Ambassadors in waiting. PMX need to clarify the reason/s
— mycire (@Malacire) February 9, 2023
Similarly, user @EnN_10jr pointed out:
Nazri aziz appointment is the same par disappointment as zahid hamidi’s appointment. We are so very upset @anwaribrahim
— EnNjr10 (@EnN_10jr) February 9, 2023
Firebrand lawyer and human rights activist Siti Zabedah Kasim also offered her two cents’ worth to the issue, pointing out:
Malaysia is so short of talented and qualified people folks… so … of course they have to pick anak bapak, saudara mara, rakan kenalan etc… Malaysia Madani mahhh… 😉 https://t.co/0GYMkEDnrO
— Siti Kasim (@sitikasim) February 9, 2023
Former law minister Datuk Zaid Ibrahim opined:
Nazri Ambadsador to US. Not surprising but no value add. I thought Anwar would give recognition to Kit Siang and send him instead . 30 years of loyalty should count for something #fb
— Zaid Ibrahim (@zaidibrahim) February 9, 2023
Earlier today, two former diplomats have similarly criticised Putrajaya’s decision to appoint Nazri to the role, with both Noor Farida Ariffin and Dennis Ignatius describing Nazri’s appointment as disappointing.
Noor Farida, the former ambassador to the Netherlands, told FMT that it is not fair to career diplomats when they are denied the opportunity to be promoted to an ambassadorship.
“I think it’s bad judgment on the part of the prime minister to nominate Nazri as our ambassador to the US,” she told the news portal, adding that the move was demoralising to career diplomats who might be qualified for the post.
Meanwhile, Ignatius, a former Malaysian high commissioner to Canada, in a terse response said: “Day by day, the PM (Anwar Ibrahim) disappoints.” – Feb 10, 2023
Main pic credit: Utusan Malaysia
