PUTRAJAYA: Wisma Putra will make sure Malaysia's voice remain strong in delivering views on various international issues including matters concerning the country.
Foreign Ministry secretary-general Datuk Seri Ramlan Ibrahim said issues on the plight of the Palestinians and Rohingnya, apart from ASEAN countries' cooperation and preparation for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in 2020, will be among the ministry's main focus this year.
"Like 2017, this year will be an interesting year for us because we are handling the Rohingnya issue, negotiating with North Korea, standing firm on the Palestine issue , apart from participation in various international meetings.
"Malaysia will continue to work to become an important and strong voice for moderation. We are also happy when our moderation resolution was accepted by the United Nations (UN) last year,” he said.
Ramlan was referring to the resolution that was voted in favour by 135 member nations of the UN with only the United States and Israel voting against the resolution. There were no abstention.
The content of the resolution wason the proclamation of 2019 as the International Year of Moderation abd the effort to amplify the voices of moderation through the promotion of dialogue, tolerance, understanding and cooperation.
"As for 2018, we will make sure our voice remains vocal to reflect on our strong position in handling various issues," he added.
Besides that, several overseas trip are also planned for this year, to explore more opportunities for Malaysia especially to generate more economic activity that would benefit the country.
Ramlan was met at press conference after the retirement and handover of duties ceremony of the ministry's deputy secretary-general (multilateral affairs) Datuk Ho May Yong to her successor Datuk Kennedy Jawan here.
With the appointment, Jawan will be first Sarawakian to hold the post in the ministry.
Ramlan also conveyed the ministry's gratitude to Ho for her commitment and service to the ministry.
Ho, 60, has called it a day after an illustrious diplomatic career that spanned three decades, beginning 1984 as an administrative and diplomatic officer upon graduation from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia.
She had served in United Kingdom and Australia during the early part of her career, also as special officer to former Prime Minister Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi from 2003 to 2009.
A statement from the Foreign Ministry said Ho became Malaysia's ambassador to Switzerland from 2010 to 2013 with concurrent accreditation to Liechtenstein and Holy See.
She then returned to the headquarters in Wisma Putra and was appointed as the deputy secretary general for multilateral affairs.
She had successfully led the department during Malaysia’s non-permanent membership of the United Nations Security Council from 2015 to 2016.
As for Kennedy, he began his career as an administrative and diplomatic officer in 1988 and had served in different countries including Japan, Myanmar and the United States during the early part of his diplomatic career.
Kennedy’s first ambassadorial post was as the High Commissioner of Malaysia to South Africa from 2008 to 2014.
He then served as the ambassador to Spain from 2014 to 2017. Kennedy then returned to Wisma Putra and was appointed the undersecretary of the Americas Division.
Translated from Berita
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