CALL TO KEEP DIPLOMATS ABREAST WITH POLITICAL DEVELOPMENT

KUALA LUMPUR, April 12 (Bernama) -- The government should keep members of
the Malaysian diplomatic corps abreast with political development in the
country, the House of Representatives was told Monday.

Bung Moktar Radin, a Member of Parliament (MP) said Malaysian diplomats
should be able to articulate the country's stand on international issues and
safeguard its sovereignty.

"We do not want our ambassadors to be at a loss over the country's domestic
affairs," he said when debating the Supplementary Supply Bill (2009) 2010 at
committee stage for the Foreign Ministry.

He lauded the appointment of Member of Parliament Dr
Jamaludin Jarjis as Malaysian Ambassador to the United States, saying that the
former cabinet minister was able to advance Malaysian interest.

Ismail Kasim, another MP, who interjected, proposed more former
ministers and politicians to be appointed as ambassadors.

Bung Moktar said stringent checks should be carried on Malaysian women
travelling alone overseas as they could have fallen prey to drug syndicates
which hired them as drug mules.

A thorough and rigorous inspection could prevent Malaysian women from
becoming drug mules, he added.

-- BERNAMA