KUCHING: From the quiet hills of Singai, Bau to diplomatic missions across continents, Datuk John Tenewi Nuek has spent over three decades representing Malaysia on the world stage.
A proud Bidayuh from Kampung Sudoh, he is the first Sarawakian professional diplomat to be appointed without political affiliation.
John’s journey is one marked by commitment, curiosity and a deep understanding of both local roots and global affairs.
Over the course of his career, he was appointed as Malaysia’s ambassador to three countries – Myanmar, Mexico, and Venezuela.
Having retired from the service in 2004, he still remains clear-eyed about the scope of diplomatic work.
“Diplomacy, actually, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs work is… the work of the whole gamut of the government overseas,” he told Sarawak Tribune in an interview.
He explained that unlike other ministries with specific portfolios such as health, education, or housing, the Foreign Ministry must engage in all areas including defending borders to promote a healthier environment and handling refugee issues.
Now aged 79, John continues to contribute to public discourse as chairman of The Sarawak Initiatives (TSI), a role he assumed last year.
He also heads Koperatif Kemajuan Singai Bau Bhd (KoSingai) and the Dayak Bidayuh Literary Society (DBLS).
Early years and education
John had his primary education at St Michael School, Sudoh and Primary 5 and Primary 6 at St Peter and Paul School, Bau.
Then, he went to St Joseph School for his secondary education before he was awarded the prestigious Commonwealth Scholarship to study abroad.
The scholarship took him to New Zealand, where he pursued a degree in political science at the University of Victoria, Wellington.
“Upon returning to Malaysia, like many others of my generation, I faced limited job opportunities.
“So, I was appointed as a teacher and began my working life at St Columba School in Miri for one year, teaching English, English Literature, Geography and Civic,” he said.
His career then briefly shifted towards law enforcement when he joined the police force as a cadet Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) for a few months.
But it was in April 1971, John found his true calling when he joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Malaysia, a decision that would define the next 33 years of his life.
Diplomatic career and postings
Over his long tenure, John served in various capacities and countries.
As an officer of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, his tasks mainly involved helping to maintain, defend and promote Malaysia’s national interests in various capacities.
He was first appointed to the Administrative and Diplomatic Service of Malaysia and served as assistant secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1971.
Between 1972 to 1986, he was posted to Singapore, Poland, Nigeria and Sweden, holding positions such as the second secretary, High Commission of Malaysia, Singapore; second secretary, Embassy of Malaysia in Poland; counsellor, High Commission of Malaysia in Lagos, Nigeria; and counsellor, Embassy of Malaysia in Stockholm, Sweden.
In 1990, he was also seconded to the National Institute of Public Administration, Malaysia (INTAN) and served as head of the Centre of International Relations and Strategic Studies.
He was later appointed as Malaysia’s ambassador to Myanmar in 1992, Mexico (1995) and Venezuela (2000).
John’s first ambassadorial posting came at the age of 47.
“I am what you call a professional diplomat. In other words, I have been working in the ministry for many years.
“Therefore, I am proud to be the first one from Sarawak to become a professional diplomat, professional ambassador,” he said.
The work of diplomacy
Reflecting on his diplomatic career, John recalled that one of the most challenging negotiations he had faced took place during his time in Sweden.
He said that while he handled a wide range of issues, environmental concerns especially relating to Malaysia’s palm oil industry were among the most contentious.
“At that time, we were trying to promote and sell palm oil in European countries but there was significant resistance.
“I think one of the main reasons is because they think that we are bad environmentalists. We plant palm oil and we cut all our jungles. As a result, they refuse to buy our oil palm,” he said.
To counter these misconceptions, John said the Malaysian delegation had to focus on telling the truth – presenting the facts about oil palm cultivation and its actual environmental impact.
He recalled a particularly pivotal moment when the late Tun Lim Kheng Yaik, who was then Minister of Primary Industries, visited Stockholm to address the issue.
“Tun Lim delivered an excellent presentation to a group of Swedish officials. It was clear, scientifically grounded and assertive,” he said.
Initially, the European officials were sceptical and condescending, but John noted a visible shift in their attitude following the former minister’s presentation.
“You could see the change in their response from being very condescending to more receptive.
“That’s how we overcame the objections, by being truthful and transparent about what oil palm really is,” he said.
He also recalled a memorable moment when he was tasked with leading negotiations during the official visit of Venezuelan president Hugo Chávez to Malaysia in 1999.
“At the time, I was serving as the Under Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, essentially heading the Americas Division,” he said.
As the principal officer overseeing the visit, John said he was directly involved in diplomatic discussions with the Venezuelan delegation.
“We negotiated and agreed on a few key initiatives. One of them was to establish a Spanish language and cultural centre in Kuala Lumpur and a Malay language and cultural centre in Caracas. We also discussed the potential for planting oil palm in Venezuela,” he said.
Unfortunately, he said, those plans did not come to fruition due to political instability in Caracas that followed not long after.
Staying informed
Asked how he kept up with current events and developments in international relations then, John said it was staying informed and maintaining strong networks.
“I read a lot – both electronic and traditional media. Reading is essential. Secondly, I also keep in touch with reliable and well-informed friends.
“One should have as wide a circle of contacts as possible because you never know who might have access to the right information,” he said.
John then drew on his experience as the founding head of Malaysia’s embassy in Poland in 1977 to illustrate the point.
“This was very interesting but in a way also a difficult assignment because Poland at that time was a communist country and it was very closed, meaning not easy to gather information.
“So one of the strategies that we developed was to have as wide contacts as possible. You never know who has the right information,” he said.
He recounted an instance where one of his most valuable contacts turned out to be an elderly ambassador.
“He was over 70 years old, and I was only in my 30s then. But despite the difference in age and seniority, we maintained a good relationship and I was able to obtain valuable insights through him,” he said.
Building relationships
When it comes to building relationships with foreign counterparts across diverse cultures, John believes the foundation lies in understanding both sides’ interests.
“As ambassadors, our job is to be clear about our national interests. Our primary responsibility is to promote and protect those interests,” he said.
At the same time, he stressed the importance of understanding the interests of the host country.
“Only when both sides recognise their mutual interests can a relationship be sustained. Because for any partnership to endure, the benefits must be mutual,” he said.
John also said knowledge is key to cultivating and maintaining these relationships.
“A diplomat must know his or her country inside out – its policies, population, economic indicators, even things like the percentage of people in Malaysia.
“Not just that, he or she must also be well-versed in the policies and context of the host country as well as the global landscape,” he said.
On balancing national interests with global cooperation, he explained, national interests must come first.
“But in today’s interconnected world, our relationships are interdependent. So we also need to abide by international norms and regulations,” he said.
Citing Malaysia’s foreign relations with major global powers, he said, “For example, we want a good relationship with China. At the same time, we also want to have a good relationship with the United States.
“Each of them wants us to be their strategic partner. How do we deal with these pulls?
“What we can do is to maintain a balanced, neutral foreign policy under the ASEAN Zone of Peace, Freedom and Neutrality (ZOPFAN),” he said.
Cultural diplomacy and language
On the subject of public diplomacy, John said it played a crucial role in international relations.
“It makes diplomacy more democratic. And second, it gives diplomacy more credibility.
“Democracy and diplomacy are not only done by the elites and the professionals but the general public can also make their own contribution,” he said.
When asked about managing cultural differences abroad, John emphasised the ambassador’s dual role as a country’s official representative and its lead promoter.
“As an ambassador, you are the chief representative and also the salesman of your country. You must use that responsibility fully,” he said.
John emphasised that learning the host country’s language and engaging with people beyond diplomatic circles was essential to bridging cultural divides.
“If I were the Minister of Foreign Affairs. I would insist that every diplomat learn a second foreign language in addition to English,” he said, adding that he had picked up the Spanish language.
John also advised diplomats not to confine themselves to capital cities.
“You should make an effort to visit other parts of the country, to really understand the people and their culture,” he said.
In terms of practical strategies to strengthen bilateral ties, he said there were two main approaches.
“First, be as active as possible in promoting your country’s interests – its products, culture, tourism and others.
“Second, as I’ve always emphasised, learn the language, mix with the people and travel widely within the host country. That’s how trust is built,” he said.
A personal note
Although John’s life was dedicated to foreign service, none of his children followed in his footsteps.
“I have two daughters and a son; they are pursuing their own paths,” he said.
Still, he encourages young Malaysians to consider joining the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
“Personally, I found it very interesting and exciting. You get to see the world, represent your country and gain so much exposure,” he said.
When asked about the qualifications required to become an ambassador, John replied, “For the Malaysian side, as far as I know, any honours degree can provide you with an entry into the Foreign Ministry.”
But beyond academic qualifications, he stressed the importance of having a broader understanding of global affairs.
“In terms of experience and knowledge, I believe having a good grasp of history, economics, international relations, politics and government would be especially helpful,” he said.
John also emphasised that an ambassador’s role had evolved significantly in recent decades, especially with the growing emphasis on economic diplomacy and trade relations.
“Nowadays, with the rising importance of trade and economic cooperation as we diversify and strengthen our economy, ambassadors and diplomats must be actively involved in promoting economic and commercial interests abroad,” he said.
Beyond economics, he also stressed the vital role ambassadors played in fostering deeper ties between nations through cultural diplomacy.
“Cultural diplomacy is very important because it brings people together, especially ordinary citizens.
“In the process, it deepens and smoothens the relationship between two countries,” he said.
