Letter of Credence Ceremony, 18 February 2025

APPOINTMENT OF AMBASSADOR TO THE STATE OF QATAR, NON-RESIDENT AMBASSADOR TO THE STATE OF KUWAIT

AND NON-RESIDENT HIGH COMMISSIONER TO THE ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF PAKISTAN

The Government has appointed Mr Pong Kok Tian as the next Singapore Ambassador to the State of Qatar, Mr Abu Bakar Bin Mohd Nor as the next Singapore Non-Resident Ambassador to the State of Kuwait and Mr Ishak Bin Ismail as the next Singapore Non-Resident High Commissioner to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan.

 Mr Pong was the Director-General of the Europe Directorate in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs from 2023 to 2025, and Director of the Corporate Affairs Directorate from 2013 to 2019.

Mr Pong joined the Singapore Foreign Service in 1997 and has served in various capacities on issues related to the Middle East, Southeast Asia, South Asia and Europe.  From 1999 to 2001, Mr Pong served as Assistant Director of the Trade Division covering the Asia Pacific region in the Ministry of Trade and Industry. Mr Pong was appointed as Special Assistant to the Minister for Foreign Affairs from January to December of 2006. Mr Pong was also First Secretary (Political) at the Singapore Embassy in Bangkok, Thailand from 2001 to 2004, Consul-General in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam from 2010 to 2013, and Consul-General in Chennai, India from 2019 to 2022.  

Mr Pong graduated with a Master in Electrical and Electronics Engineering from the University of London, Imperial College of Science & Technology in 1996.  He obtained a Master in Public Management from the National University of Singapore in 2010.

Mr Pong is married to Mdm Kho Soo Pei and they have a daughter.

Mr Abu Bakar is currently Chairman of M Kapital Holdings. He is also Chairman of the Workplace Safety & Health Council under the Ministry of Manpower. In addition, Mr Abu Bakar holds Directorships in several organisations such as the Majlis Ugama Islam Singapura, the Maritime Port Authority of Singapore and the Lee Kuan Yew Exchange Fellowship which is under the auspices of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Mr Abu Bakar graduated with an Executive Master of Business Administration from the Singapore Management University.

Mr Abu Bakar was awarded the Commendation Medal (Military) in 2002, the Public Service Medal in 2009, the Public Administration Medal (Military) (Bronze) in 2015, and the Public Service Star in 2022. He is married to Ms Kohe Noor Binte Mahmoodul Hasan and they have two children.

Mr Ishak is currently the Principal Consultant at i-Grow Partners Pte Ltd. He is also Chairman of the Families for Life Council and the National Maritime Safety at Sea Council, and is a member of the Board of Directors of the National University Health System. Mr Ishak previously served in the Singapore Armed Forces where he retired as a Brigadier-General.

Mr Ishak graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and Economics and Master of Business Administration from the National University of Singapore.

Mr Ishak was awarded the Long Service Medal (Military) in 2007, the Public Administration Medal (Silver)(Military) in 2008 and the Public Service Medal in 2023. He is married to Ms Maria Liu Mei Yoke, and they have two children.

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MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS

SINGAPORE

18 FEBRUARY 2025

Singapore Ambassador to the State of Qatar, Mr Pong Kok Tian. Photo Credit: Ministry of Communications and Information, Singapore

Singapore Non-Resident Ambassador to the State of Kuwait, Mr Abu Bakar Bin Mohd Nor. Photo Credit: Ministry of Communications and Information, Singapore

Singapore Non-Resident High Commissioner to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, Mr Ishak Bin Ismail. Photo Credit: Ministry of Communications and Information, Singapore