JOHOR BARU: Former Malaysian high commissioner to Singapore Datuk N. Parameswaran has passed away, aged 74.

       It is learnt that a friend found the former top diplomat unconscious in his home in Iskandar Puteri here on Friday (June 17) at about 12.30pm.

       Medical personnel contacted later pronounced him dead at the scene, and it is learned that the funeral will be on Monday (June 20).

       Parameswaran was the Malaysian High Commissioner to Singapore from 2003 to 2010.

       He has served in six posts in Africa, the United States, Asia and Europe and had more than 40 years of experience as a career diplomat.

       Born in Kuala Kangsar in 1948, he joined the Malaysian Foreign Service in 1969 and first served as second secretary at the Malaysian Embassy in Jakarta between 1971 and 1972 before taking on various other postings.

       From 1986 to 1990, he served as the deputy permanent representative at Malaysia's Permanent Mission to the United Nations in Geneva, and was appointed Ambassador to Vietnam in 1990.

       At the request of the United Nations, he was seconded by the Malaysian Government to serve as chief of staff in the United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor (Untaet), Dili, from January 2000 to January last year.

       He had also held various senior management positions in the Foreign Affairs Ministry, serving first as under-secretary of multilateral political affairs from 1993 and then promoted to deputy secretary general II in charge of international organisations and multilateral economics.

       In 1999, he assumed the position of director-general of Asean-Malaysia, and was appointed deputy secretary general (special functions) last year following his Untaet stint.

       He has spent most of his career in multilateral diplomacy and negotiations. During his tenure in Untaet, he played a key role in bringing about national reconciliation among the different factions in East Timor and promoting the return of refugees.

       After retiring in 2010, he was appointed to an advisory position in Iskandar Investment Bhd to help promote the project in Singapore.

       When contacted, long-time friend Ravi Nambiar said that he was shocked to hear about Parameswaran’s passing.

       “He was an outstanding diplomat who was gracious yet tough and unflinching when it comes to protecting Malaysia’s international image and standing,” said Ravi.

       The Royal Press Office chief added that Parameswaran was also a media- friendly person with a network of media contacts, saying that he was very generous with stories and gave excellent quotes.

       “Malaysia has lost one of its most outstanding diplomats. I last met him for lunch recently and even then he was enquiring about his media friends,” he said, adding that he would deeply miss a good friend.