Envoy seeks end to 'nuisance' tag

PUTRAJAYA: Datuk Zakaria Sulong is going out to ensure that all Malaysians visiting and living in Britain abide by its laws.

The newly-minted Malaysian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom said this would prove to be challenging but "I will do my level best to minimise cases of Malaysian overstayers".

"I will make sure that the number of Malaysians abusing student visas, too, go down once I take office at the end of this month.

"Last year, the British government highlighted this pressing issue and wanted to impose visa requirements if the problem persisted," he said.

"Our enforcement officers, with their counterparts in Britain, had been able to bring down the number quite significantly," Zakaria told the New Straits Times yesterday.

"I will see to this personally and my hope is that all Malaysians will abide by the law.

"We do not want to be stereotyped as a public nuisance abroad or be grouped with other countries that are on Britain's top list for crimes and overstaying."

Zakaria also said the threat to impose the visa ruling was dropped following immediate response and commitment shown by the Malaysian government.

He added that Malaysian students on government loans were now required to return home immediately after completing their studies in Britain.

"This is one of the moves introduced by the government to put a stop to the problem."

Zakaria was in Britain in 1993, serving as the Malaysian High Commission counsellor.

He was then posted to Hong Kong for two years as High Commissioner before spending another three years in Berlin as ambassador to Germany and Bosnia.

His impressive diplomatic service career spans 35 years and the soon-to-be grandfather said he would not have it any other way.

The 58-year-old Zakaria received his credentials from the Yang di-Pertuan Agong on May 6.

He hoped to do more in promoting Malaysia-UK trade relations and the growth of foreign direct investments between the two countries.

"Despite stiff competition and economic recession that we are facing, Malaysia is still ahead in terms of providing world-class infrastructure and producing highly-qualified, skilled workers and professionals.

"I want the British government to recognise this and immediately think of Malaysia as a hub for investors."

Britain is ranked third among European Union countries in trade relations with Malaysia.

Apart from trade relations, Zakaria said British nationals were still the highest number of participants in the "Malaysia, My Second Home" programme.

He said he would introduce programmes to complement the existing ones in promoting Malaysia as a favourite tourist destination.

"I will be working closely with Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen on this and others."

The father of three also said he was eagerly waiting for the policy announcement on Asia by new British Prime Minister David Cameron.

"I hope they will focus more on establishing new relations with us. I am looking forward to working with the new government."

By Kristina George

Adapted from New Straits Times