MSIAN ENVOY TO CHAIR IAEA BOARD OF GOVERNORS

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 22 (Bernama) -- The Vienna-based International Atomic
Energy Agency's (IAEA) Board of Governors has elected Malaysian envoy to
Austria, Mohd Arshad Hussain, as its chairman, replacing Taous Feroukhi of
Algeria Monday.

He is the second Malaysian to assume the post in the 52-year history of the
United Nations' nuclear watchdog.

Arshad said the first Malaysian to be chairman of the board was ambassador
Khor Eng Hee who served between 1977 and 1978.

"I am humbled by this honour and privilege given to me but it's a bigger
honour for Malaysia and an apt recognition of our consistent and principled
position on international nuclear issues, our commitment to the
Non-Proliferation Treaty and disarmament," he said when contacted after Ministry
of Foreign Affairs (Wisma Putra) issued a statement of his election.

"My task for the next 12 months will be immensely challenging, the board is
one of the two policy-making organs of the IAEA after the General Conference,"
said the 58-year-old career diplomat.


Arshad takes up the post for a one-year term. The IAEA has appointed Yukiya
Amano of Japan as new director-general to succeed Dr Mohamed ElBaradei in
December.

He represented Malaysia in the 35-member board since last October for a
two-year term. Board members are elected by the General Conference from
150-member states.

The newly-elected board for 2009-2010 comprises Afghanistan, Argentina,
Australia, Azerbaijan, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Canada, China, Cuba,
Denmark, Egypt, France, Germany, India, Japan, Kenya, South Korea, Malaysia,
Mongolia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Pakistan, Peru, Romania, Russia, South
Africa, Spain, Switzerland, Turkey, United Kingdom, United States, Ukraine,
Uruguay and Venezuela.

It is another feather in Arshad's hat. He is concurrently accredited to the
Slovak Republic and is also Malaysia's Permanent Representative to the United
Nations in Vienna.

He had also served as envoy to the Philippines and Australia in his 35 years
with Wisma Putra with postings to eight countries.

-- BERNAMA