KUALA LUMPUR — Former Malaysian ambassador to the United States (US), Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Aziz, has revealed how he was summoned by the State Department five times over Malaysia’s stance on key international issues, particularly in relation to Palestine, Iran, and Russia.
Speaking on Scoop’s podcast Trick Lama recently, Nazri, whose two-year tenure ended earlier this month, recalled how he initially thought his role in Washington DC would be straightforward, given that an ambassador’s duties mostly involved attending diplomatic events.
However, the situation changed dramatically after October 7, 2023, when the longstanding Israel-Palestine conflict escalated with Hamas’ cross-border attack, Nazri told the podcast hosted by Big Boom Media Group Chief Executive Officer Datuk Zainul Arifin Isa, Group Advisor Datuk Ahirudin Attan (Rocky Bru) and Group Editor-in-Chief Terence Fernandez.
The ensuing war on Gaza and genocide of Palestinians prompted strong statements from Malaysia’s Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim that drew US scrutiny.
“The first time I was called, they actually schooled me over Malaysia’s support for Palestine,” Nazri said.
“But sometimes, ignorance is bliss. As a political appointee, I wasn’t sure how a career diplomat would normally respond in such situations. Because I was ignorant, I asked for the right to reply.”
Nazri pushed back, asserting that Malaysia’s position was based on principle.
“I told them, ‘I am the Malaysian ambassador to the US, Israel is not part of the equation. I am only to ensure good relations with the US. As far as we are concerned, Palestine was forced to flee; this is our stand’.
“I said ‘I cannot convey this message to Kuala Lumpur because I am not your ambassador. You have an ambassador, you convey it through him’.
“I also said, ‘we are not happy with your stand (of) ironclad support for Israel, but we never called up your ambassador in Kuala Lumpur’.
“I actually replied politely, made it clear that we have no diplomatic relations with Israel. It’s not because we hate the Jews but our stance is based on the UN resolution advocating a two-state solution.”
Nazri said he was called to the State Department a second time after Anwar met with the late Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Qatar in May last year, around two months before the latter was assassinated by Israel in Tehran, Iran.
“They asked me why our Prime Minister met with him (Ismail). I couldn’t call Kuala Lumpur, it was a spur of the moment so I just had to come up with something.
“So I told them: ‘Ismail Haniyeh was a freely-elected leader of Palestine. This is democracy, it means respecting elected leaders. Malaysia cannot say no to that. My Prime Minister has every right to meet with Ismail.’”
He also emphasised Malaysia’s commitment to multilateral decision-making.
“If the US sanctions Hamas as a terrorist organisation, that’s their position. We follow the UN, and Hamas is not on the UN’s list. That’s how I replied, with facts.”
A third summons followed Anwar’s remark that Iran had the right to retaliate against Israel after the latter attacked the Iranian consulate in Tehran, Syria, on April 1, 2024. Iran retaliated with a missile and drone attack on Israel.
“I had to reply on the spot: ‘You attack the consulate general in (Tehran); under diplomatic and international law, that is (Iranian territory).
“This is the consulate general. That is a territory of Iran. So Iran has every right to retaliate.'”
Nazri was called in for a fourth time after Anwar made a statement about xenophobia.
“In my heart I was thinking, ‘makan cili rasa pedas ke?’ (the person who eats chillies will taste the spiciness).
“I said it was a general statement and wasn’t even referring to the US. I asked them: ‘Why are you offended? If you aren’t xenophobic, then it shouldn’t bother you.’”
The final warning of a summons came when Anwar visited Russia last September.
“They (US State Department) told me to wait for a call, but they never followed up. I waited, but I think they gave up on me,” the former Padang Rengas MP said with a laugh.
Nazri, 70, quit active politics in 2021, announcing he would not contest in the 15th general election held the following year. An Umno member, he had been a Member of Parliament since 1995 and had served in various deputy minister and minister portfolios.
Nazri told the Trick Lama podcast his experience as ambassador had showed him the diplomatic pressures Malaysia faced in maintaining an independent foreign policy while navigating its relationship with the US.
Despite the repeated summons, he said his priority was always to defend Malaysia’s Prime Minister, his position and principles, on the world stage.
In a departure from previous practice, Malaysia’s next ambassador to the US is to be a career diplomat and not a political appointee, Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan told media yesterday. The nominee has been appointed and is waiting to receive the Yang di-Pertuan Agong’s consent, before being posted to Washington DC next month. – February 25, 2025