It appears that Malaysia’s foreign ministry is now appointing businessmen and failed politicians as ambassadors and high commissioners to foreign countries. Maybe in Washington this is okay. But in other countries?

Not that many of our so-called diplomats are the best that the country can appoint. Yet they are the best choice. Yet again some have failed in their jobs.

London needs a strong and polished chief diplomat. Not a businessman or a politician. London is a key post. London needs a strong personality, not a weak person. Don’t make Malaysia a laughing stock by posting a weak person or who likes to be the ‘Invisible Man’.

What is happening in London now is a matter of urgency. The newly-appointed high commissioner must take urgent measures to stop the rot which has set in. Rumours and gossip regarding the Malysian High Commission are astounding.

Even the students in London and the Malaysian public there seem to have knowledge of the sorry state of affairs at the high commission.

People comment that weak officials running the place have made it a laughing stock among the Malaysian community. The officials are extremely weak. They can be swayed by even new staff who seem to make a fool of these officials.

Weak leaders who want to be popular have also let the place down. New staff are making fools of the officials and the officials just keep on ignoring this. One woman, a new staff, comes late almost everyday. No action has been taken.

She takes sick leave for four days and takes the fifth day as annual leave. That idea is sharp indeed. So no sick leave certificate has to be produced. She gets her card clocked in by others. The officers can see this on CCTV circuit.

Yet no action has been taken or warning given to her because she has threatened to sue the high commission. There is another who does not give a damn to the officers, coming and going whenever it suits him. The officers are scared of him.

Such is the state of Malaysia’s top office London. When will the foreign ministry look into this sorry state of affairs in London? After all, the taxpayers are paying for their upkeep and we have the right to know is happening to the country’s flagship centre in the UK.