KOTA KINABALU: Tan Sri Bernard Dompok, Malaysia’s ambassador to the Holy See, has reportedly returned to Sabah last weekend following a directive from Wisma Putra recalling some of its envoys back.
“Yes, he’s back since last Saturday but still resting (at home in Penampang).
“Will let you know when he is ready (to talk),” his personal assistant said when contacted.
Dompok was appointed Malaysia’s first resident Ambassador to the Vatican City early 2016.
He was a veteran politician, having served in the Federal cabinet. He was also Sabah’s chief minister from 1998 to 1999.
But Dompok stepped down from the Sabah-based United Pasokmomogun Kadazandusun Murut Organisation (Upko) presidential post in 2014 after losing the Penampang Parliamentary seat in the 2013 elections.
His name was tied to previous news reports stating two politically-appointed ambassadors, who initially refused to comply with the orders as the letter issued by the ministry was not signed by the minister, but instead by a senior staff of Wisma Putra.
However Foreign Minister Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah in Kuantan last night, put the matters to rest as ‘the case has been settled’, stating that the ambassadors’ task were supposed to have ended on June 30.
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