MFA Press Statement: Appointment of Singapore’s Ambassador to the Kingdom of Bahrain

The Government has appointed Mr V P Hirubalan, 57, as Singapore's Ambassador to the Kingdom of Bahrain. He is currently Singapore's Ambassador to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, with concurrent accreditation to the Sultanate of Oman. He will be resident in Riyadh. He will present his credentials to King Hamad Bin Isa Al Khalifa on 11 September 2007.

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MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
SINGAPORE
11 SEPTEMBER 2007

BIOGRAPHICAL SUMMARY

Mr Hirubalan V P was appointed as Singapore's Ambassador to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on 2 February 2006. Concurrently, he is also the non-resident Ambassador to the Sultanate of Oman. Before his arrival in Riyadh, he was Singapore's High Commissioner to Negara Brunei Darussalam from January 2002 to December 2005.

Mr Hirubalan was born in Singapore on 8 September 1950. He obtained his Bachelor of Arts (Honours) First Class from the University of Singapore in 1980 for which he was presented the Shell Gold Medal. He was awarded a Fulbright scholarship in 1984 and proceeded to obtain his Masters in International Relations from Yale University, USA, graduating in 1986.

Mr Hirubalan served in Singapore's Ministry of Defence in various appointments before his transfer to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in June 1996. After several posts in the Ministry, Mr Hirubalan was posted to Jakarta in February 1998 as Minister-Counsellor and later as Deputy Chief of Mission.

Mr Hirubalan was awarded the Long Service Medal in 1995 and the Public Administration Medal (Silver) in 1996.

Mr Hirubalan is married to Mrs Manoranchitham Hirubalan and they have three children.

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Sept 2007