Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar said today that Malaysia will redouble efforts to lobby for the Commonwealth secretary-general's post during the Langkawi International Dialogue (LID) next month.

He said Malaysia would ensure its intention to contest for the post was made known to all participating Commonwealth nations and its candidate, Dr Rais Yatim, would be introduced to the Heads of Government.

"I think we have a very good candidate. A qualified candidate who has served in various ministries. What we are going to do is to get their support.

"We are going to invite Dr Rais to be together during the LID so that he will have the opportunity to interact with the leaders," he told Bernama.

Todate, 11 Commonwealth member states have confirmed attendance at LID, to be held in Langkawi from Aug 5 to 8.

Syed Hamid said Malaysia had already started lobbying for support from African countries and Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi had written to the Heads of Government of Malaysia's bid for the post.

Right credentials

"We've made phone calls and we hope Dr Rais will be able to travel also, apart from meeting them here," he said, adding that he felt Malaysia had offered a very qualified candidate for the coveted post.

"I think he (Dr Rais) has the right credential, right exposure, right experience, but the most important thing is for them (Commonwealth Heads of Government) to be able to get to know him at the Commonwealth level, to hear his vision, how he would like to run the secretary-general post, I think that will become the important element," said Syed Hamid.

Malaysia announced its intention to vie for the post last month. Dr Rais, who is also Culture, Arts and Heritage Minister, has been nominated as the candidate.

Besides Malaysia, India and Malta had also announced their intention to contest for the post.

India had proposed its High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Kamalesh Sharma, while Malta had named its Foreign Minister Michael Frendo.

The election for the new secretary-general will be held at the three-day Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Kampala, Uganda, on Nov 23.

The term of the current Commonwealth secretary-general, Don McKinnon, of New Zealand, ends on March 31 next year. It's Asia's turn to hold the post.