KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 14 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim today said the government has identified a candidate to serve as Malaysia’s next ambassador to the United States (US).

However, he said the appointment must receive the consent of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar.

“There is a candidate, but as usual, the process requires the consent of the King.

“God willing, when I return from Bahrain next week and have an audience with the King, we can finalise the matter,” he told reporters after Friday prayers at As-Salam Mosque here today.

On February 8, Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Aziz confirmed that his two-year tenure as Malaysia’s ambassador to the US had ended, emphasising that he was a political appointee rather than a career diplomat.

Last week, former Bangi MP Ong Kian Ming suggested five potential candidates for Putrajaya to consider as Malaysia’s next ambassador to the US, including Nurul Izzah Anwar and Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz.