# Razali Ismail

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Malaysian diplomat (b. 1939)

In this [Malay name](/source/Malaysian_names#Malay_names), there is no [surname or family name](/source/Surname).  The name *Ismail* is a [patronymic](/source/Patronymic), and the person should be referred to by their [given name](/source/Given_name), *Razali*.

Yang Berbahagia Tan Sri Dato' Razali Ismail PSM DSDK Razali in 2015 Chairman of Human Rights Commission of Malaysia In office 21 June 2016 – 26 June 2019 Preceded by Hasmy Agam Succeeded by Othman Hashim President of the United Nations General Assembly In office 17 September 1996 – 15 September 1997 Preceded by Diogo Freitas do Amaral Succeeded by Hennadiy Udovenko Malaysian Ambassador to Poland In office 1978–1982 Monarch Sultan Ahmad Shah Preceded by Position established Malaysian High Commissioner to India In office 23 May 1982 – 20 May 1985 Monarchs Sultan Ahmad Shah Sultan Iskandar Preceded by Mon Jamaluddin Succeeded by Mohamed Haron Personal details Born Razali bin Ismail (1939-04-14) 14 April 1939 (age 87) Alor Setar, Kedah, Federated Malay States, British Malaya (now Malaysia) Citizenship Malaysian Education Sultan Abdul Hamid College Malay College Kuala Kangsar Alma mater University of Malaya (BA) Occupation Diplomat

**Razali bin Ismail** (born 14 April 1939) is a [Malaysian](/source/Malaysia) diplomat. He is formerly the Chairman of the [Human Rights Commission of Malaysia](/source/Human_Rights_Commission_of_Malaysia) (SUHAKAM) from 2016 to 2019.[1] He was also the 51st [President of the United Nations General Assembly](/source/President_of_the_United_Nations_General_Assembly) from 1996 until 1997.

## Early life and education

He received his education at the [Sultan Abdul Hamid College](/source/Kolej_Sultan_Abdul_Hamid) and completed his studies in 1956. Then he continued his education at the [Malay College Kuala Kangsar](/source/Malay_College_Kuala_Kangsar) (MCKK) for 2 years.[2] He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree with Honors in literature and the humanities from [Universiti Malaya](/source/Universiti_Malaya) and an Honorary Doctorate from [Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia](/source/Universiti_Kebangsaan_Malaysia).[3]

## Career and post

Razali Ismail first joined the Malaysian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1962 and went on to become the Ministry's Deputy Secretary-General in 1985. Before he was appointed to the post, he served as the Malaysia's Assistant High Commissioner in [Madras](/source/Madras) from 1963 to 1964, Second Secretary of Malaysia's Embassy in [Paris](/source/Paris) in between 1966 and 1968, the Counsellor in the Malaysian High Commission in [London](/source/London) from 1970 until 1972 and the Chargé d'affaires in [Vientiane](/source/Vientiane) from 1974 until 1976. He was later the Malaysian Ambassador to [Poland](/source/Poland) from 1978 to 1982 and to [India](/source/India) between 1982 and 1985.

After his tenure as Malaysian Ministry of Foreign Affairs' Deputy Secretary-General, he became increasingly involved with the [United Nations](/source/United_Nations). In 1989 and 1990, he headed the Malaysian delegation to the United Nations. At the same time, he was the chairman of [United Nations Security Council](/source/United_Nations_Security_Council). From 1996 to 1997, he became the [President of the United Nations General Assembly](/source/President_of_the_United_Nations_General_Assembly).

In the past, he usually headed Malaysian diplomatic delegation to various regional and international bodies such as [ASEAN](/source/ASEAN) and the [Non-Aligned Movement](/source/Non-Aligned_Movement). Until a few years ago, he had been Malaysia's Permanent Representative to the United Nations.

Up until 2005, he was United Nations Secretary-General's Special Envoy to [Myanmar](/source/Myanmar) and played a pivotal role in releasing [Aung San Suu Kyi](/source/Aung_San_Suu_Kyi) from house arrest in May 2002. However, his impartiality as a UN Special Envoy was questioned by American officials in an embassy cable that was released via Wikileaks, alleging his business ties with the Burmese military regime.[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*] Later however, Myanmar military junta repeatedly denied him entry to Myanmar, contributing to his decision to quit the special envoy status in December 2005.[4]

## Honours

### Honours of Malaysia

- [Malaysia](/source/Malaysia) - Commander of the [Order of Loyalty to the Crown of Malaysia](/source/Order_of_Loyalty_to_the_Crown_of_Malaysia#Commander) (PSM) – **Tan Sri** (1991)

- [Kedah](/source/Kedah) - Knight Companion of the [Order of Loyalty to the Royal House of Kedah](/source/Order_of_Loyalty_to_the_Royal_House_of_Kedah) (DSDK) – **Dato'** (1985)

### Honorary degrees

- [Malaysia](/source/Malaysia) - Honorary Doctorate degree from [National University of Malaysia](/source/National_University_of_Malaysia)

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** ["Past Commissioners: Members of the Commission 2016 – 2019"](https://www.suhakam.org.my/about-suhakam/ahli-suruhanjaya/pass-commission/). [Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (SUHAKAM)](/source/Human_Rights_Commission_of_Malaysia). Retrieved 24 July 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** ["Hall of Fame :: Tan Sri Razali Ismail"](https://web.archive.org/web/20080614032419/http://www.mykedah2.com/e_20hall_fame/e201a_3.htm). Archived from [the original](http://www.mykedah2.com/e_20hall_fame/e201a_3.htm) on 2008-06-14.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-HallofFame_3-0)** Syed Zulfilda S.M. Noor. ["Tan Sri Razali Ismail"](https://web.archive.org/web/20160303213533/http://www.mykedah2.com/e_20hall_fame/e201a_3.htm). Archived from [the original](http://www.mykedah2.com/e_20hall_fame/e201a_3.htm) on March 3, 2016. Retrieved November 19, 2011.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["United Nations' Burma envoy quits"](https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/4592842.stm). [BBC News](/source/BBC_News). January 8, 2006. Retrieved November 19, 2011.

## External links

- [https://www.un.org/ga/55/president/bio51.htm](https://www.un.org/ga/55/president/bio51.htm)

Diplomatic posts Preceded by Diogo Freitas do Amaral President of the United Nations General Assembly 1996–1997 Succeeded by Hennadiy Udovenko

v t e Presidents of the United Nations General Assembly 1940s Spaak ( BEL) Aranha ( BRA) Arce ( ARG) Evatt ( AUS) Rómulo ( PHI) 1950s Entezam ( IRI) Nervo ( MEX) Pearson ( CAN) Pandit ( IND) Van Kleffens ( NED) Maza ( CHI) Ortega ( CHI) Wan ( THA) Munro ( NZL) C. Malik ( LIB) Belaúnde ( PER) 1960s Boland ( IRL) Slim ( TUN) Khan ( PAK) Rodriguez ( VEN) Quaison-Sackey ( GHA) Fanfani ( ITA) Pazhwak ( AFG) Mănescu ( ROM) Catalán ( GUA) Brooks ( LBR) 1970s Hambro ( NOR) A. Malik ( INA) Trepczyński ( POL) Benites ( ECU) Bouteflika ( ALG) Thorn ( LUX) Amerasinghe ( SRI) Mojsov ( YUG) Liévano ( COL) Salim ( TAN) 1980s Von Wechmar ( BRD) Kittani ( IRQ) Hollai ( HUN) Illueca ( PAN) Lusaka ( ZAM) Piniés ( ESP) Choudhury ( BAN) Florin ( DDR) Caputo ( ARG) Garba ( NGR) 1990s De Marco ( MLT) Shihabi ( KSA) Ganev ( BUL) Insanally ( GUY) Essy ( CIV) Freitas ( POR) Razali ( MAS) Udovenko ( UKR) Opertti ( URU) Gurirab ( NAM) 2000s Holkeri ( FIN) Han ( KOR) Kavan ( CZE) Hunte ( LCA) Ping ( GAB) Eliasson ( SWE) Al-Khalifa ( BAH) Kerim ( MKD) D'Escoto ( NIC) Treki ( LIB) 2010s Deiss ( SUI) Nasser ( QAT) Jeremić ( SRB) Ashe ( ANT) Kutesa ( UGA) Lykketoft ( DEN) Thomson ( FIJ) Lajčák ( SVK) Espinosa ( ECU) Muhammad-Bande ( NGA) 2020s Bozkir ( TUR) Shahid ( MDV) Kőrösi ( HUN) Francis ( TTO) Yang ( CMR) Baerbock ( DEU)

Authority control databases International VIAF WorldCat National United States

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Razali Ismail](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Razali_Ismail) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Razali_Ismail?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.