H.E PRESIDENT XANANA GUSMÃO TO RECEIVE NEW MALAYSIAN AMBASSADOR

Thursday, September 18, 2003

The new Ambassador of Malaysia, H.E. Mr. Abdullah Faiz Bin Mohd Zain will present his letter of credentials to H.E. President Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão at the Palace of the Ashes. Ambassador Zain began his career in 1981 as Assistant Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In 1985, he served as Second Secretary at the Permanent Mission of Malaysia to the United Nations in New York. Ambassador Zain was also First Secretary at the Embassy of Malaysia in Rangoon, and in late 2002, was appointed Under Secretary (North Africa) at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, a position he held until his recent nomination as Ambassador to Timor-Leste. Ambassador Zain holds a Bachelor of Sciences (Hons.) from the University of Malaya.

Malaysia has contributed to successive UN missions in Timor-Leste with the deployment of UN troops, Police and Civilian volunteers. The Malaysian Royal Police has contributed to to security training of the National Police of Timor-Leste.
Malaysia’s bilateral assistance to date has focussed on capacity development and strengthening human resources. The Government of Malaysia is currently providing several ongoing technical training courses for Timorese public servants, in the areas of Public Sector Management, Border Control, Health, Information Technology, Diplomacy and Foreign Relations. It has also in the past provided vocational training for Timorese youths.

“I am pleased with the appointment of Ambassador Zain as I believe he brings with him a wealth of experience to bear on his new office. Malaysia’s assistance in strengthening our human resources has been invaluable and we look forward to fostering these and other areas of cooperation”, stated President Xanana Gusmão.