The Ambassador of Singapore to the Philippines, Mr V. P. Hirubalan, has been appointed as the next Deputy Secretary-General of Asean for Asean Political-Security Community (DSG-APSC).

His appointment was approved at the 15th Meeting of the Asean Coordinating Council.

Mr Hirubalan, who will assume the post on Feb 15, 2015, for a non-renewable term of three years, will succeed outgoing DSG-APSC Nyan Lynn from Myanmar.

The DSG-APSC, who is appointed from among nationals of Asean Member States based on alphabetical rotation, supports the Asean Secretary-General in implementing the APSC Blueprint, as well as managing relations with Asean Dialogue Partners and the international community.

Mr Hirubalan brings with him a wealth of experience as a veteran diplomat with over 17 years of diplomatic experience.

He served in various appointments in the Ministry of Defence before transferring to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1996.

Besides the Philippines, Mr Hirubalan served overseas as Singapore's High Commissioner to Brunei Darussalam from 2002 to 2005 and Singapore's Ambassador to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia from 2006 to 2009, where he was concurrently accredited as Singapore's non-resident Ambassador to the Kingdom of Bahrain from 2007 to 2009 and Singapore's Ambassador to the Sultanate of Oman from 2007 to 2008.

Mr Hirubalan is married to Mrs Manoranchitham Hirubalan. They have three children.