Baker Best Remembered For Role Managing S'pore Relations With M'sia, Says Singapore PM

By Massita Ahmad SINGAPORE, July 13 (Bernama) -- Maurice Baker is best remembered for his role in managing Singapore’s relations with Malaysia, the country of his birth, said Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. “He got along exceedingly well with four Malaysian PMs (Prime Ministers) during his tenure,” said Lee in his latest Facebook posting today on the passing of Baker. Baker, a pioneer-generation Singapore diplomat and a close friend of Malaysia’s second prime minister, the late Tun Abdul Razak Hussein, died Tuesday afternoon. Lee was deeply saddened to learn of Baker’s passing while he was away. The Prime Minister just came back today after a working visit to Germany since July 6. Lee wrote that Baker called himself an “accidental diplomat” but “he was a natural, affable and with a gift for getting along with people.” Lee noted that Baker spent a long, varied career in service to Singapore, as a teacher, academic, and diplomat. “In 1967, Maurice was Head of English Literature at the University of Singapore, when he agreed to become Singapore’s first High Commissioner to India, out of a sense of duty. “He was later High Commissioner to Malaysia and Ambassador to the Philippines,” Lee put a brief background on Baker. According to Lee, diplomacy runs in Baker’s family. His son Bernard is currently Singapore’s High Commissioner to New Zealand. “Singapore has lost a dedicated public servant, and will long remember Mr Baker for his distinguished service,” wrote Lee. Baker was High Commissioner to Malaysia from 1969 to 1971, and from 1980 to 1988. Bernard was reported as saying that his father died of old age at home about noon. "He had good innings, he lived a good life," he was quoted as saying. -- BERNAMA