FORMER ARMED FORCES CHIEF ACCEPTS NEW CHALLENGES IN FRANCE

KUALA LUMPUR, May 17 (Bernama) -- Abdul Aziz Zainal is confident
that his 40 years service in the military will help him face new challenges in
France.

The 59 year-old former Malaysian Armed Forces (ATM) chief will leave for
Paris on May 28 to become the new Malaysian ambassador to France.

"I consider the appointment as an honour and trust by Prime Minister Mohd
Najib Tun Razak. I want to help the PM in realishing his wish to put
Malaysia on the map of France," he told Bernama at his home here Monday.

Aziz, the first former ATM chief to be appointed as ambassador joins a
selected group of non-career diplomats entrusted with such a responsibility.

The others are former minister Jamaludin Jarjis who is the
Malaysian ambassador to the United States and former deputy inspector-general of
police Jamil Johari who was appointed the Malaysian High Commissioner to
Brunei.

Aziz believed that his experience in the military and fostering bilateral
ties would prove advantageous in his new posting.

"The scope is now wider. If previously it only involved the military, now it
include the economy, tourism and bilateral ties," he said.

He served as military attache in Philippines for three years and commander
of the Malaysian contingent to Bosnia Herzegovina under Nato (1996-1997).

Aziz has a master's degree from the Asian Institute of Management based in
Manila.

His focus in Paris was to realise the government's wish to make Malaysia an
education hub. There are 900 Malaysians in France of whom 500 are students.

"I will try to improve cooperation between institutions of higher learning
in Malaysia and France to get the French to continue studies here."

The other challenge was to introduce Malaysia as a holiday destination as
the French, especially those in the outskirts of Paris, did not know about
Malaysia.

"Apart from strengthening diplomatic ties of both countries, efforts will
also be made to bring French investors here."

The 1Malaysia concept would also be introduced so that the French saw
Malaysia as a united country despite the many races, religions and cultures.

Aziz who was born in Kuala Pilah, Negeri Sembilan did not see the
appointment of a non-career diplomat like himself as ambassador as an issue.

"I don't see it as a big issue as anyone appointed knows his role and
responsibility. Give me the opportunity to prove my capability," he said.

--BERNAMA