I M Not Qualified For Us Envoy Post Ong Tells Nazri

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Former Bangi MP Ong Kian Ming told outgoing Malaysian ambassador to the US Nazri Aziz that he is not interested in chasing after positions.
PETALING JAYA: Former Bangi MP Ong Kian Ming says he is not qualified to become Malaysia’s next ambassador to the US after the outgoing envoy, Nazri Aziz, claimed that Ong was lobbying for the post.
Although he said he was confident he could do a better job than Nazri – whose contract ends today – Ong said the candidates he had in mind were more suited for the role.
“Nazri’s way of thinking is very ‘old school Umno’… thinking that others are after this or that position,” said Ong, a former deputy international trade and industry minister.
“I do not qualify based on the first criteria that I put forth – I don’t have direct access to Anwar (Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim).”
Ong, who yesterday accused Nazri of failing to arrange a phone call between Anwar and US president Donald Trump, proposed five names for Putrajaya’s consideration as Malaysia’s next ambassador to the US.
He said the five possible successors are PKR vice-president Nurul Izzah Anwar; investment, trade and industry minister Tengku Zafrul Aziz; former CIMB group chairman Nazir Razak; ex-MP Yusmadi Yusoff, and Institute of Strategic and International Studies Malaysia chairman Faiz Abdullah.
Ong said Nazri’s replacement should have direct access to Anwar to communicate important information on the bilateral relationship, and to provide recommendations on how best to engage with Trump, his Cabinet and Congress.
Apart from having access to key Cabinet members to recommend strategic policy positions, Ong also said Nazri’s replacement should be able to engage publicly and privately with key stakeholders in the US power structure. - FMT

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