Moving again. No, it is not a complaint – it is merely a statement of fact. Every three years or so, the diplomats of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs move house – some to a foreign country, others to return home for their stint in Malaysia. We often call it a ‘stint’ even though we are technically ‘home’ because it works the same way as a posting abroad: it is temporary, and one fine day, we will again be called…
His Majesty the Yang DiPertuan Agong, Sultan Mizan of Terengganu, presenting the Letter of Credence to a Malaysian Ambassador Ambassador ↗ For a rank-and-file diplomat (what we elegantly term ‘career diplomat’) to become an ambassador, these are the steps that are taken, procedurally. Bear in mind that different countries will have different processes, depending on the type of government in place. These differences are often very small, however, since most countries have a similar process in place. Step One: A…
Once a person is appointed and received as an Ambassador, very few incidents can happen that would dislodge the person from the post. Even if the whole diaspora literally detests the ambassador, or the ambassador commits some gross transgression, the person remains an Ambassador. However, if the sending country recalls their ambassador, then the person’s tour of duty is effectively ended. The recalling of one’s own ambassador signals a country’s displeasure at the other country, not at the ambassador. This…
