Maliki helped rally international support for S'pore, says PM Wong

Dr Maliki Osman's decade of service at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) helped strengthen Singapore's partnerships with other countries, as well as rally international support for the Republic's survival and success, said Prime Minister Lawrence Wong.

- Zhaki Abdullah

In a valedictory letter to the veteran political office-holder, PM Wong noted that Dr Maliki was able to keep up a punishing travel schedule to engage Singapore's partners in the region — such as Brunei, Malaysia and Indonesia — as well as across the Middle East, Africa and Latin America.

"Despite differences in culture and language, you found ways to connect, build trust and make the case for why Singapore mattered," he said.

Dr Maliki, who is Minister in the Prime Minister's Office as well as Second Minister for Education and Foreign Affairs, announced on April 21 that he would be retiring from politics after 24 years.

The former assistant professor at the National University of Singapore's social work and psychology department first became an MP for Sembawang GRC in 2001, before moving to East Coast GRC in 2011.

Across his five terms, the 59-year-old held positions in various ministries, including the Ministry of Defence and the Ministry of National Development (MND).

PM Wong said that across these various portfolios, Dr Maliki had shown the ability to "bring people together, bridge differences and energise communities" — traits that were especially evident during his 10 years at MFA.

Dr Maliki was appointed senior minister of state for foreign affairs in 2015, and was promoted to second minister for foreign affairs following the 2020 General Election.