Malaysia’s new High Commissioner to Nigeria is a Catholic from Sarawak

Sarawakians, particularly the Bidayuhs, take pride in the appointment of Mdm Gloria Peter Tiwet as the Malaysian High Commissioner to Nigeria. She is the first Bidayuh woman to be appointed as a Malaysian envoy.

Catholics in the Archdiocese of Kuching are no less delighted. Gloria is a parishioner of St Joseph’s Cathedral and attends Sunday Masses there together with her family.

Born in 1972, Gloria is the fourth of six children of Peter Tiwet, 74 and Lucy Rippiang 72. Both her parents are from Singai, Bau. She and her siblings grew up and received their education in SRB and SMB St Teresa respectively. After Form 6 in St Joseph’s school, she furthered her studies in Political Science in Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), Penang.

What she saw on television when she was 9 years old became her dream. “I saw a lady receiving a scroll from His Majesty the King. As a young girl, I too wanted to be like that lady, to meet the king. That stayed on with me,” said Gloria.

She continued to pursue her ambition to become that lady she saw on television, which has now become a reality. “I joined the administrative diplomatic service as soon as I graduated from USM. This year is my 22nd year in service. It has been very challenging, rcwarding, a lot of tears and sweat, but I believe that it was all for a good cause,” she revealed.

On February 12, Gloria received her instruments of appointment as a Malaysian envoy from the Yang Di-Pertuan Agong, Sultan Muhammad V, at Istana Negara.

Gloria was posted to Santiago, Chile in 2002-2003, Buenos Aires, Argentina in 2003-2006, and Stockholm, Sweden in 2011- 2015. Prior to her posting to Nigeria, she was the director of the Sarawak Regional Office in the Foreign Ministry.

Asked about the challenges she had faced while in foreign lands, she remarked that each country was different. “It depends on the countries — the people, the culture, the work ethics, the weather, the food, the environment – when it comes to work, we do not know what is to come. We cannot predict.”

As for her new posting to Nigeria, she is prepared. “I am ready as far as work is concerned. I prepare myself mentally and physically for anything that may come later. As the high commissioner, I carry the name of the country and the King with me. I believe with faith and prayer, everything will be alright.”

For a Catholic to be sent to a country like Nigeria where persecution of Christians is not unheard of, is Gloria not worried? The answer is yes, but she trusts in God’s protection and providence. “I do get worried if I think too much over it. There are more than 100 high commissions in Abuja,” she said. “Do not worry about things that are not there in reality. Have peace. Peace is found in prayers.”

Gloria left for Nigeria with her husband, Raj, on April 3.

Article reproduced from Herald Malaysia online