The new High Commissioner of Malaysia and Ambassador of the United Arab Emirates formally presented their credentials to President Tharman Shanmugaratnam, marking the commencement of their diplomatic appointments in Singapore.
President Tharman Shanmugaratnam received the credentials of the newly appointed High Commissioner of Malaysia, Her Excellency Datin Paduka Anizan Siti Hajjar binti Adnin, and the Ambassador of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), His Excellency Dr Abdulnasser Jamal Hussain Mohammed Al Shaali, during separate credential presentation ceremonies held at the Istana on 21 July 2026. The ceremonies formally marked the commencement of their diplomatic missions in Singapore.
The Presentation of Credentials Ceremony is an official diplomatic protocol through which newly appointed Heads of Mission are formally accredited by the President of Singapore before assuming their responsibilities. Held at the Istana, the ceremony reflected Singapore’s continued commitment to maintaining strong diplomatic relations with partner countries.
The High Commissioner of Malaysia
Her Excellency Datin Paduka Anizan Siti Hajjar binti Adnin
Source: High Commission of Malaysia, Singapore
High Commissioner Anizan Siti Hajjar Adnin brought more than three decades of diplomatic experience to her new appointment in Singapore. Prior to her posting, she served as Deputy Secretary General of Management Services at Malaysia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Throughout her diplomatic career, she held appointments as Malaysia’s High Commissioner to Canada and Ambassador to Ireland, in addition to serving at Malaysia’s Permanent Missions to the United Nations in New York and Geneva.
She also led several key divisions within Malaysia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, including the Southeast Asia Division, the Institute of Diplomacy and Foreign Relations, and the Human Rights and Humanities Division. High Commissioner Anizan holds a Master’s Degree in International Relations from Schiller International University in Paris and a Bachelor’s Degree in International Relations from California State University. She was conferred the Darjah Kebesaran Dato’ Paduka Mahkota Selangor Yang Amat Mulia (D.P.M.S.) in 2021, carrying the title Datin Paduka.
The Ambassador of the United Arab Emirates
His Excellency Dr Abdulnasser Jamal Hussain Mohammed Al Shaali
Ambassador Dr Abdulnasser Jamal Hussain Mohammed Al Shaali was appointed Ambassador of the United Arab Emirates to Singapore under Federal Decree No. 42 of 2026. Before assuming his current role, he served as the UAE’s Ambassador to India and non-resident Ambassador to Bhutan. Since joining the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 2013, he has held several senior leadership positions, including Assistant Minister for Economic and Trade Affairs, Director of the Economic and Trade Affairs Department, and Director of the Policy Planning Department.
Source: Instagram/khouri1000
Ambassador Dr Al Shaali holds a PhD in Economics from the Australian National University, a Master’s in Business Management from Paris Sorbonne University, a Master of Business Administration from Murdoch University, and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the American University of Sharjah. In 2025, he was awarded the President’s First Class Order of Zayed II in recognition of his service.
The accreditation of the two Heads of Mission underscored Singapore’s longstanding diplomatic relations with both Malaysia and the United Arab Emirates. Their appointments are expected to further strengthen cooperation across areas of mutual interest, including political engagement, economic collaboration, regional cooperation, and people-to-people exchanges.
As the new Heads of Mission begin their diplomatic assignments in Singapore, both countries are expected to continue working closely with Singapore to deepen bilateral partnerships and advance shared priorities through regular diplomatic engagement.
Source: MFA Singapore
