Nazri confirms return from US, says ambassador contract expiring

Summary

• Malaysian Ambassador to the US Nazri Aziz confirms permanent return from Washington this month but denies that he was recalled as claimed.

• The former minister explains that his contract as ambassador ends on Feb 8 and he is leaving the US on Feb 14.

• This follows criticism from a former career diplomat after Nazri was photographed holding a “Make America Great Again” sign during President Donald Trump’s victory rally last month.

Malaysian Ambassador to the United States Nazri Aziz has confirmed his permanent return to Malaysia from Washington this month.

Speaking to Malaysiakini, Nazri however denied that he was being “recalled” before the end of his tenure.

“What recall? No such thing as being recalled. My contract has expired,” he said.

The former minister explained that, unlike career diplomats, he was a politician who was appointed ambassador.

“I signed a two-year contract with the Foreign Ministry and my contract expires on Feb 8,” he said.

“As a politically appointed ambassador, I was granted an A2 Visa, which is not like the usual 10-year visa.

“My visa is only valid for two years and it will expire on Feb 21, so I’m leaving the US on Feb 14,” said the former Padang Rengas MP. 

Earlier today, online portal MalaysiaNow quoted veteran diplomat Dennis Ignatius as calling on the government to recall Nazri after he was photographed holding a pro-Donald Trump sign while attending a victory rally for the US president last month.

Ignatius, who last served as the Malaysian ambassador to Canada, reportedly described Nazri - who was photographed holding a sign with Trump’s “Make America Great Again” slogan - as “shameful and unprofessional”.

The photograph was posted on Jan 21 by Nazri’s wife, Haflin Saiful, who had also been sharing various farewell gatherings hosted by the diplomatic circle in their honour since early last month.

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