‘Why is ex-IGP picked as envoy over others’

Source: http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2013/09/13/why-is-ex-igp-picked-as-envoy-over-others/ (By K Pragalath, 13/9/2013)

The government should justify the appointment former IGP Ismail Omar as the envoy to France, says Segambut MP Lim Lip Eng.

Segambut MP Lim Lip Eng questioned former Inspector-General of Police Ismail Omar’s proficiency in the French language following his appointment as the new ambassador to France. “I have no doubt as to his ability as a crime buster and command of English but is he competent in French? he asked. “Although being able to speak in the language of the host nation is not a pre-requisite, it nevertheless is a great advantage,” Lim said in a statement today.

Bernama reported that Ismail would be among the six new envoys who would receive their credentials from the Yang di-Pertuan Agong tomorrow. Wisma Putra also said Malaysian High Commissioner to Australia Salman Ahmad had been named as the new ambassador to Germany. Rohana Ramli will be the new ambassador to the South Korea. Awang Sahak Awang Salleh is the Brunei High Commissioner, Raszlan Abdul Rashid the ambassador to Cambodia and Jilid Kuminding@Zainuddin the High Commissioner to Papua New Guinea.

Lim also questioned Ismail’s competency as an envoy and urged the government to justify the appointment. “To be fair to our existing and serving civil servants, is there no suitable senior government official with the relevant qualifications who can take up this post? he asked. The government must thus explain the criteria being used in the selection of Ismail and furnish the reason why other senior government officials have been overlooked for this very important posting,” said Lim.

He questioned whether Ismail would be investigating into the trail of Altantuya Shaariibuu who was murdered in 2006. “Is our top crime buster being sent to pick up the cold trail of the murder of Altantuya who in a twist of irony was an interpreter, the services of one which Ismail himself may require,” he said.

Ismail who holds a Bachelor’s degree in law from the International Islamic University Malaysia, joined the Royal Malaysian Police in 1971 and was appointed as IGP in September 2010. He retired from the force on May 17, this year.
Related news: http://en.harakahdaily.net/index.php/berita-utama/7837-former-igps-appointment-as-envoy-raises-questions.html