GEORGE TOWN: Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah has consented to the appointment of Tan Sri Ahmad Fuzi Abdul Razak as Penang's 8th Yang di-Pertua Negeri.
Announcing this at his office in Komtar today, Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said he received a letter from the King, dated April 8, on the appointment of the state's 8th Yang di-Pertua Negeri.
"Following the King's decree, the Penang government will make the necessary arrangements for the appointment ceremony according to the standard operating procedures (SOP) during the Conditional Movement Control Order (CMCO). The state government will also ensure the transition process proceeds smoothly.
"As such, I represent the Penang government to welcome (Tan Sri) Ahmad Fuzi Abdul Razak as the state's 8th Yang di-Pertua Negeri," he said.
Chow also represented the Penang government in extending their heartfelt thanks to Yang di-Pertua Negeri Tun Dr Abdul Rahman Abbas for his services and devotion during his tenure as the 7th Yang di-Pertua Negeri for the past 20 years.
"In fact, the State Secretary, the state Legal Adviser and I called on Abdul Rahman to inform him about the King's letter at 12.30pm today.
"Truly, Tun (Abdul Rahman's) services and guidance to the Penang government and myself, will continue to guide us in our efforts to place Penang on the world stage," he said.
Chow said a ceremony to present the appointment letter to Ahmad Fuzi has been scheduled for April 30 at Istana Negara.
He added that Ahmad Fuzi's swearing in ceremony as the Yang di-Pertua Negeri has been scheduled for May 1 at Dewan Sri Pinang here.
Ahmad Fuzi, 72, was born in Sungai Bakap, Penang on Jan 8, 1949.
He is married with two children.
Ahmad Fuzi was previously the secretary-general of the Ministry of Forelgn Affairs.
He joined the Malaysian Diplomatic and Administrative Service in 1972 and served in various capacities at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs until 2009.
He also served at the Malaysian Missions abroad in Moscow, the Hague, Canberra, Washington and Dhaka.
His tenure as secretary-general saw him leading the Malaysian Senior Official delegation in negotiations at various bilateral, regional and international conferences as well as in organising the NAM Summit and the OIC Summit in 2003 and the Asean Summit plus East Asia Summit and Related Summits In 2005 in Kuala Lumpur.
He also previously served as director-general of the Institute of Diplomacy and Foreign Relations Malaysia; deputy secretary-general 1, Ambassador-at-Large and Malaysia's Representative to the ASEAN High Level Task Force (HLTF) on the Drafting of the ASEAN Charter and Malaysia's Representative to the High-Level Panel (HLP) on the Drafting of the Terms of Reference of the Asean Human Rights Body.
He was also formerly director of Maybank Islamic (MIB) Bhd; Maybank Islamic Asset Management (MIAM) Sdn Bhd; WEROS Technology Sdn Bhd; Optima Capital Sdn Bhd as well as board member of Puncak Niaga Holdings Bhd and member of Board of Trustee, F3 Strategies Bhd and advisor of Tripfez Sdn Bhd.
Ahmad Fuzi is currently secretary-general of the World Islamic Economic Forum Foundation (WIEF).
He is also Group Chalrman, ACE Holdings Berhad, Chairman, ACE Investment Bank Limited; Seremban Engineering Berhad; Theater Management Associates Sdn Bhd; IMAN Research Consulting Sdn Bhd and TAERG International Sdn Bhd.
He is also Member of the Board, Management Development Institute of Singapore (MDIS) Malaysia Sdn Bhd; CGM Alstar Solutions Sdn Bhd and Lejadi Medimax Sdn Bhd.
Amhad Fuzi is also Distinguished Fellow, Institute of Strategic and International Studies (ISIS) and Institute of Diplomacy and Foreign Relations (IDFR); deputy chairman of Malaysian Member Committee of the Council for Security.