Singapore appoints ambassadors to Thailand and Philippines

The Government has appointed Mrs Chua Siew San (nee Tan) as Singapore's next Ambassador to the Kingdom of Thailand and Mr V.P. Hirubalan as Singapore's next Ambassador to the Republic of the Philippines. Mrs Chua and Mr Hirubalan will assume post on March 5 and March 12 respectively.

Mrs Chua started her career as an analyst in Singapore's Ministry of Defence in 1974 and headed the Research Department there from 1983 to 1995. Her most recent appointment was Deputy Secretary (Asia-Pacific) in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) from October 2006 to August 2011.

Mr Hirubalan served in Singapore's Ministry of Defence in various appointments before his transfer to the MFA in June 1996. He served as Singapore's Ambassador to Saudi Arabia from February 2006 to July 2009 and was concurrently, the non-resident Ambassador to Bahrain.

His most recent appointment was Director of the Middle East, North Africa and Central Asia Directorate in the MFA from July 2009 to February 2012.