More extrovert than Matthias, but can he do a better job?

Sabah academician named PM’s new political secretary

KUALA LUMPUR, July 2 — Academician Oh Ei Sun, who is also a highly sought international speaker-trainer-motivator, consultant and entrepreneur, has been appointed political secretary to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.

An official from the Prime Minister's Office said the appointment was effective June 16.

The 35-year-old Sabahan, trained in law, management, engineering and the languages, has extensive experience serving various international and world bodies under the United Nations.

Oh holds a degree each in aeronautical and mechanical engineering, and another in German language, apart from a double master’s — in science and international management — as well as Juris Doctor in Law (JD), obtained from his eight years of study at the University of Califonia.

His working experience includes serving with international organisation such as International Telecommunication Union and the Working Group on Emergency Telecommunications, both located in Geneva, Switzerland.

Fluent in five languages — Bahasa Malaysia, English, Chinese, German and French — Oh has conducted various consulting works for multinational and international corporations, as well as advising diverse small and medium enterprises on legal and business start-up issues.

Not limited to the corporate sector, he has also rendered his expertise in strategic, technical and legal advice to various international organisations, governments and agencies, political parties, non-governmental organisations, as well as professional, civic and cultural bodies.

Oh once served as a United Nations expert consultant advising various governments on emergency communications. He has also worked closely with various UN partner agencies, including the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), World Food Programme (WFP), International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), the World Bank, International Monetary Fund (IMF) and UN Development Programme.

He has also served as chief executive officer of a telecommunications company based in Hong Kong, and been involved in mobile multi-channel share-trading services in China.

Oh had his share of expertise in training managerial-level professionals, delivered more than 500 modules to more than 20,000 corporate directors where he recently expanded his expertise in the field of financial management and education.

"I am honoured to be able to serve the country and the people at this critical juncture, both politically and economically," he told Bernama today.

The appointment comes at an unexpected time when he had to shift from his normal role as analyst, motivator and moderator to something more challenging — taking care of the political mission of the country's top leader.

Asked what his first mission would be after being appointed, Oh said he would like to promote the concept of 1 Malaysia and engage in dialogue with more people from various backgrounds and communities.

This is particularly important to understand the pulse of the people, as well as to obtain feedback from the people, he said.

"There is one element in 1 Malaysia that I feel most deeply about. It is about integrity, both in the public sector and the private endeavour. I would like to see more emphasis on this as we continue to promote 1 Malaysia," he said.

This former student of Kian Kok Middle School in Kota Kinabalu is also an adjunct professor with Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS). — Bernama