MFA Press Statement: Appointment of Singapore's High Commissioner to Malaysia, Non-Resident Ambassador to the African Union and Non-Resident Ambassador to the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste

               The Government has appointed Mr Vanu Gopala Menon as Singapore’s High Commissioner to Malaysia; Mr T Jasudasen as Singapore’s Non-Resident Ambassador to the African Union; and Mr Sudesh Maniar as Singapore’s Non-Resident Ambassador to the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste.

              Mr Vanu Gopala Menon joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in June 1985 and served as Deputy Secretary from August 2011 to October 2014.  He was Non-Resident Ambassador to the African Union from April 2013 to October 2014 and concurrently to the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia from August 2013 to October 2014.  From August 2004 to August 2011, Mr Menon was Singapore's Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York, and concurrently High Commissioner to Canada from November 2004 to May 2008.  From December 2001 to August 2004, Mr Menon was Permanent Representative to the United Nations and World Trade Organisation in Geneva and concurrently Ambassador to the Republic of Turkey.

              Mr Menon graduated with a Bachelor of Business Administration (Honours) from the National University of Singapore in 1985.  He obtained a Master of Science in International Relations (Distinction) from the London School of Economics and Political Science in 1994 on a Raffles Scholarship.  Mr Menon was awarded the Public Administration Medal (Gold) in 2009 and the Public Administration Medal (Silver) in 2001.

               Mr Menon is married to Mrs Jayanthi Menon.  They have a son.  Mr Menon will assume post as High Commissioner to Malaysia on 10 November 2014. 

               Mr T Jasudasen joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in July 1977.  He was High Commissioner to the United Kingdom (with concurrent accreditation as Ambassador to Iceland and Ireland) from August 2011 to August 2014, and to Malaysia from June 2006 to July 2011.  Mr Jasudasen also served as Ambassador to the Union of Myanmar from November 2004 to May 2006, and to the French Republic (with concurrent accreditation to Portugal, Spain and Israel) from July 1997 to September 2004.  While at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Headquarters, he served in various appointments including as Director of the Policy, Planning and Analysis Directorate IV (covering South Asia, the Middle East, Africa and Latin America) from June 1996 to July 1997.

               Mr Jasudasen graduated with a Bachelor of Laws (Honours) from the University of Singapore in 1977.  He obtained a Diploma in Public Administration from the École Nationale d'Administration in Paris, France in 1984.

               Mr Jasudasen was awarded the Public Administration Medal (Gold) in 2011 and the Public Administration Medal (Silver) in 1990.  He was also conferred the "Palmes Académiques" in 2002 and the "Légion d'Honneur" in 2004 by the French Government.  In October 2010, the Sultan of Pahang (Malaysia) conferred on Mr Jasudasen the "Darjah Sultan Ahmad Shah of Pahang" which carries the title of "Dato".  Mr Jasudasen received the Honorary Freedom of the City of London award in September 2013.

               Mr Jasudasen is married to Mrs Patricia Jasudasen. They have a son and twin daughters.

               Mr Sudesh Maniar joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in February 1997.  He is currently Director-General of the Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Directorate, a position he will hold concurrently with his new appointment as Non-Resident Ambassador to the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste.  Mr Maniar has held other appointments at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, including as Director of the Public Affairs Directorate, Director of the International Economics Directorate and Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations and World Trade Organisation in Geneva.  He was also Director of Public Affairs in the Asia-Europe Foundation from May 2007 to August 2009. 

              Mr Maniar graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Economics (Honours) from the London School of Economics and Political Science, United Kingdom in 1986.

              Mr Maniar is married to Madam Loo Beng Du.  They have a daughter.

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MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS

SINGAPORE

29 OCTOBER 2014