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MALAYSIAN DIPLOMATS: OUR STORIES

security challenges were rife with threats of Boko Haram in the northern
part of Nigeria and a widespread of other threats of kidnapping for ransom,
banditry, cultism, and sporadic killings within the country. T e Nigerian
Government under President Buhari continues to take active actions to
overcome these challenges in order to achieve peace and security in the
country. At the point of writing, actions are proving arduous.

Incidences of protest are also not a distant sight. My maiden experience of
the protest happened on 12 April 2018 when the Shiites group protested on
the streets of Abuja as I was on my way to the Ministry of Foreign Af airs to
present copies of my Letter of Credence. It was both a shocking and scary
experience for me as people in huge numbers marched past our vehicle,
shouting, and demanding the release of their leader, Ibrahim El-Zakzaky.
It was an experience that I do not wish to face again. T roughout the three
years I have been at post, many other protests and demonstrations have taken
place in various parts of the country such as demand for salary payment by
teachers, police, and doctors; protests during the election period of October
2018 to March 2019, and the END SARS protests in October 2020.

T e END SARS protests was very intense, and it af ected us directly. Sounds
of thundering bangs and snippets of shootings may be a distance away, yet
sounded as though they were right at our doorstep. We quickly made our
way home, while continuously praying for our safety, the safety of our family
members and the safety of our staf . T rough the intense period of two
weeks, we remained vigilant, commuting only to work, and keeping safe
at our respective residences. T e thought of being caught in a line of f re
is one that is dif cult to comprehend. Even though a diplomat’s prowess is
in negotiation, there is no amount of “negotiation” when a stray bullet is
coming towards you. T e wisest action is to avoid the location of protests
altogether.

Quality services for workmanship and repairs are much sought after. Toilet
f ush malfunctions, and regular and frequent electricity failures are just two
examples from the extensive list endured thus far. After f xing the broken
toilet f ush, a few weeks later another malfunction is sure to happen. T is
may be water leaking from the toilet f ush or no water supply at all. Electricity
supply disruption is a daily af air, at least f ve times a day. Electricity top-

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