KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia’s new Ambassador to the United States, Tan Sri Muhammad Shahrul Ikram Yaakob, has reaffirmed his commitment to enhancing Malaysia-US relations during a credentials ceremony with President Donald J. Trump at the White House.
The Embassy of Malaysia in Washington, D.C., confirmed in a Facebook post that Muhammad Shahrul Ikram presented his Letter of Credence to Trump on July 24, officially marking his appointment as Malaysia’s 18th Ambassador to the US.
During the ceremony, Muhammad Shahrul Ikram briefly exchanged pleasantries with Trump, expressing his dedication to deepening bilateral ties. He also thanked the US President for Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s participation in the recent 48th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting held in Kuala Lumpur, which reinforced US engagement in the region.
Malaysia-US relations have evolved over six decades into a broad partnership covering political, economic, defence, security, and educational cooperation.
Muhammad Shahrul Ikram, a seasoned diplomat with over 35 years of service, previously served as Secretary-General of the Foreign Ministry. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Ecology from Universiti Malaya and completed Harvard Business School’s Advanced Management Programme in 2009.
His diplomatic career includes postings in Qatar, Austria, and as Malaysia’s Permanent Representative to the UN in New York. He has also served in diplomatic missions in Vienna, Washington, D.C., and Beijing. – Bernama