Ong accused the current envoy, former six-term MP Nazri Aziz, of failing to arrange a phone call between Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and US president Donald Trump, adding that these calls were crucial signals in the diplomatic community.
The former deputy trade minister said that the heads of neighbouring nations like Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand, and Singapore had held calls with Trump before his inauguration.
With Nazri’s tenure ending tomorrow, Ong said five possible successors were Nurul Izzah, Tengku Zafrul, former CIMB chairman Nazir Razak, ex-MP Yusmadi Yusoff, and Institute of Strategic and International Studies Malaysia chairman Faiz Abdullah.
He said Faiz was already giving the prime minister key input on foreign policy, while Nurul Izzah was a key aide and Tengku Zafrul had proven to be a trusted minister of Anwar’s.
He said Nazir was a well-known corporate figure while Yusmadi was a long-time member of Anwar’s “inner circle”.
“Nazri’s replacement should have direct access to Anwar to communicate important information on the bilateral relationship, and to provide recommendations on how best to engage with Trump, his Cabinet, and Congress.
“They should have access to and be known to key Malaysian Cabinet members (finance, trade and industry, transport, foreign affairs, energy) to recommend strategic policy positions.
“And they should have the ability to engage publicly and privately with key stakeholders in the US power structure, including positioning via social media,” he said in a statement today.
The former DAP leader also said that the role of the ambassador to the US was crucial, given the announcements and executive orders signed off by Trump since his return to power.
However, until Nazri was replaced, Ong said Putrajaya should send a senior minister to the US – whether the minister of foreign affairs or trade, or one of the deputy prime ministers – to send Trump a personal invitation to the Asean summit at the end of the year.
“Whether Trump attends is a separate story, but the signal that such a visit and such an invitation will send to the US president, White House, and international community would be important in itself.
“During this visit, other high-level engagements with members of Trump’s Cabinet and senior White House officers should also be arranged, using our leverage as the chair of Asean and demonstrating our leadership in engaging with the US,” he said.