KUALA LUMPUR: Newly-appointed Malaysian ambassador to the United States Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz said he is ready to serve his ambassadorship without receiving any salary.
The former Padang Rengas member of parliament said he did not need the salary from his appointment as an ambassador and that money is not his priority.
Nazri, who was the former tourism and culture minister from 2013 until 2018, however, said he would not turn down if the government decided to pay him the salary for his role as the Malaysian ambassador.
"I accepted the position not because of the money. Similar to the prime minister (Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim), I do not need the salary (from his appointment as an ambassador).
"Perhaps, I was appointed to the position since there are certain tasks that I can deliver (on behalf of the government).
"I will take it if the government wants to provide me with the salary. I am no longer a politician. Money is not my goal," he was quoted as saying in the interview.
Nazri said he believed that he was appointed to the position since the government felt that he was capable and could still contribute to the progress of the country.
Wisma Putra, in a statement last week, announced that Nazri had been presented with the letter of credence by the Yang di Pertuan Agong along with nine other new heads of diplomatic missions.
They were presented with their appointment letters in a ceremony at Istana Negara on Feb 9.