Shahrul, 55, a senior career diplomat, who has served in the foreign ministry since 1988, is expected to assume his new post in the first week of February.

He received his letter of appointment from Foreign Minister Anifah Aman in a ceremony at the ministry here today.

Prior to his new appointment, Shahrul served as director-general of the Asean-Malaysia National Secretariat from 2013 to 2016.

He has held several key positions at the ministry, including as Malaysia’s ambassador to Austria from 2010 to 2013, ambassador to Qatar from 2007 to 2010 and counsellor at the Malaysian embassy in Vienna, Austria, from 2002 to 2005.

Wisma Putra, in the statement, said the role of the Permanent Representative of Malaysia to the UN was vital to promote and uphold Malaysia’s interests and foreign policy objectives on issues deliberated at the UN.

Among the main and current focus of the UN is the implementation of the Paris Agreement on Climate Change and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development as these goals had been incorporated in the 11th Malaysia Plan, it said.

Additionally, it said, the Permanent Representative was responsible for continuing the initiatives undertaken by Malaysia at the United Nations Security Council during its non-permanent membership for the term 2015-2016.

This included promoting the five priorities pursued at the Security Council, namely on moderation, mediation, peacekeeping, peace-building and UNSC reform, it said.

“Malaysia will continue to support the work of the United Nations, the pillars of which are international peace and security, social and economic development, and the promotion and protection of human rights.”

In this regard, Wisma Putra said, Malaysia would continue to work closely with other UN member states, the UN Secretariat and other main bodies under the UN.