IAEA selects Malaysian envoy to head board of governors

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 22 — The Vienna-based International Atomic Energy Agency’s (IAEA) board of governors has elected Malaysian envoy to Austria, Datuk Mohd Arshad Hussain, as its chairman, replacing Taous Feroukhi of Algeria today.

He is the second Malaysian to assume the post in the 52-year history of the United Nations’ nuclear watchdog. Arshad said the first Malaysian to be chairman of the board was ambassador Datuk Khor Eng Hee, who served between 1977 and 1978.

“I am humbled by this honor and privilege given to me but it’s a bigger honor for Malaysia and an apt recognition of our consistent and principled position on international nuclear issues, our commitment to the Non-Proliferation Treaty and disarmament,” he said when contacted after Wisma Putra issued a statement of his election.

“My task for the next 12 months will be immensely challenging, the board is one of the two policy-making organs of the IAEA after the General Conference,” said the 58-year-old career diplomat.

Arshad takes up the post for a one-year term. The IAEA has appointed Yukiya Amano of Japan as new director-general to succeed Dr Mohamed ElBaradei in December.

He represented Malaysia in the 35-member board since last October for a two-year term. Board members are elected by the General Conference from 150-member states.

The newly-elected board for 2009-2010 comprises Afghanistan, Argentina, Australia, Azerbaijan, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Canada, China, Cuba, Denmark, Egypt, France, Germany, India, Japan, Kenya, South Korea, Malaysia, Mongolia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Pakistan, Peru, Romania, Russia, South Africa, Spain, Switzerland, Turkey, United Kingdom, United States, Ukraine, Uruguay and Venezuela.

It is another feather in Arshad’s cap. He is concurrently accredited to the Slovak Republic and is also Malaysia’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations in Vienna.

He had also served as envoy to the Philippines and Australia in his 35 years with Wisma Putra, with postings to eight countries.