US envoy here spared Trump’s night of the long knives
In a radical move, new US President fired more than 80 ambassadors at a go but Malaysia’s top American guest is a career diplomat and so she’s safe.
But the new US envoy to Malaysia who arrived just earlier this month is safe. As a career diplomat, Kamala Shirin Lakhdhir was spared Trump’s guillotine.
A US embassy spokesperson told FMT: “All US ambassadors serve at the pleasure of the President. However, the President has only recalled political-appointee ambassadors. Ambassador Lakhdhir is a career diplomat.”
International media earlier today reported that Trump, shortly after he was sworn into office as the US’ 45th President, had fired all foreign ambassadors without replacements lined up.
They were told to leave their office by Jan 20 — the day of his inauguration — with no grace period provided.
Reports also said that as many as 80 ambassadors for countries, agencies and issues, such as the ambassador for global women’s issues, were affected by the announcement.
Lakhdhir arrived in Malaysia on Jan 5, replacing Joseph Yun, who left in October after three years.
The career diplomat was nominated for the post by former US President Barack Obama in June last year.
She was born in Brooklyn, New York, to an Indian father and American mother. Lakhdhir graduated with a bachelor’s degree from Harvard College in 1986.
According to the US Embassy’s website, Lakhdhir joined the foreign service in 1991 and served in Riyadh from 1992 to 1994, followed by Jakarta in 1994 to 1996.
She then held several positions in Washington before being assigned to the US Embassy in Beijing from 2001 to 2005.
The ambassador has also served as director of the Office of Maritime South-East Asia in the US State Department’s Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs, which is responsible for managing the country’s relations with Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines, Singapore, and Brunei.
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She received her Master’s degree from the National War College in 2007.