Parliamentary Hearing Committee Rejects Ambassador Nominees for Saudi Arabia and Malaysia

Kathmandu. The Parliamentary Hearing Committee has rejected the names of the proposed ambassadors to two countries. The names of the proposed ambassadors to Saudi Arabia and Malaysia were rejected in the committee meeting held on Wednesday. The name of Giribahadur Sunar, proposed ambassador to Saudi Arabia, and Chudamani Kharel, proposed ambassador to Malaysia, were also rejected by the Parliamentary Hearing Committee. Sunar's name was rejected due to questions about his moral conduct and various issues including being deported from Germany. Similarly, Kharel faced questions about 'conflict of interest', financial irregularities, collusion with manpower businessmen, and his qualifications. After their names were rejected by the committee, they could not be appointed as ambassadors to Saudi Arabia and Malaysia. The name of Jigyankumar Thapa, proposed ambassador to Japan, was put on 'hold' by the Parliamentary Hearing Committee on Wednesday, as a decision could not be made. The committee meeting held in Singh Durbar on Wednesday decided to finalize the government's recommendation in the next committee meeting as further documents are yet to arrive and study is needed to appoint Thapa as ambassador. Complaints were filed regarding Thapa residing in Japan for a long time and having a permanent resident permit (PR) of that country, leading the committee to conduct a deep investigation into him. During the hearing, MPs raised serious questions about his qualifications, morality, and conflict of interest. Committee members raised concerns that the status of his family members abroad and their property there could tarnish diplomatic dignity. The government had recommended ambassadors to 13 different countries from the Council of Ministers meeting held on October 2, last year. Among them, the Parliamentary Hearing Committee has already approved the names of 10 people.