Special Envoy of the Prime Minister of Malaysia explained

Post:Special Envoy
Body:the
Prime Minister of Malaysia
Native Name:Duta Khas Perdana Menteri Malaysia
Flagsize:130px
Flagcaption:Official emblem of the Office of the Prime Minister
Insignia:Coat of arms of Malaysia.svg
Insigniasize:100px
Style:Yang Berhormat
(The Honourable)
unless otherwise specified
Reports To:Parliament
Nominator:Prime Minister
Appointer:Yang di-Pertuan Agong
Termlength:Two years[1]
Formation:1 January 2011
First:Samy Vellu
Salary:27,227.20 per month[2]

The special envoys of the prime minister of Malaysia (Malay: Duta Khas Perdana Menteri Malaysia) are individuals, usually politicians, appointed with specific assignments to enhance the relationship between Malaysia with particular states or regions where Malaysia has considerable economic interests and cultural similarities.[3] In contrast to that of ambassadorial appointments, Malaysian special envoys are not appointed by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong (King of Malaysia) as head of state, but rather are direct appointees of the head of government, the prime minister of Malaysia. They are often appointed with the rank equivalent to a minister.

Special envoys are often accorded a team consisting of between four and eight personnel, usually including a senior private secretary, special officer, two special assistants and some with a police escort.[4]

Although most special envoys have been appointed with ministerial rank, the salaries drawn have varied depending on portfolio. Known individuals who have served in this capacity without drawing any salary include Ong Ka Ting and Tiong King Sing during Tiong's first posting to East Asia.[5] Nevertheless, Ong was listed as receiving a monthly salary of 20,000 during his earlier terms as special envoy.

List of special envoys of the prime ministers of Malaysia

Colour key (for political coalition/parties):

CoalitionMember partyAppointee(s)
1
Muafakat Nasional (MN)
Appointment with ministerial rank
PortraitName
(Birth–Death)
Constituency (if any)		Political coalitionPolitical partyAppointmentAreas and portfolios Took officeLeft officeTime in officePrime Minister

Samy Vellu

Barisan Nasional (BN)Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC)Special Envoy of Infrastructure to India and South Asia
[6] [7] 		Republic of India02009-10-01-031 January 201102009-10-01-0330 June 2018Najib Razak
People's Republic of Bangladesh
Kingdom of Bhutan
Republic of Maldives
Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal
Islamic Republic of Pakistan
Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka

Ong Ka Ting

Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA)Special Envoy to China
[8] [9] 		People's Republic of China02009-10-01-031 November 201102009-10-01-0331 December 2017

Jamaluddin Jarjis


MP for Rompin		United Malays National Organisation (UMNO)Special Envoy to the United States
[10] [11] 		United States of America02009-10-01-031 March 201202009-10-01-034 April 2015

Tiong King Sing


MP for Bintulu		Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party (SPDP)Special Envoy to East Asia
[12] [13] 		Japan02009-10-01-033 January 201402009-10-01-0330 June 2018
Republic of Korea
Republic of China

Khalid Abu Bakar

––Special Envoy of Combating Terrorism, Extremism and Human Trafficking
[14] [15] 		––02009-10-01-035 September 2017

Tan Kok Wai

MP for Cheras		Pakatan Harapan (PH)Democratic Action Party (DAP)Special Envoy to China
[16] [17] 		People's Republic of China02009-10-01-0325 July 201802009-10-01-031 March 2020Mahathir Mohamad

Abdul Hadi Awang


MP for Marang		Perikatan Nasional (PN)Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS)Special Envoy to the Middle East
[18] [19] [20] 		Kingdom of Saudi Arabia02009-10-01-032 April 202024 November 2022Muhyiddin Yassin

Ismail Sabri Yaakob
Kingdom of Bahrain
Arab Republic of Egypt
Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan
State of Kuwait
Lebanese Republic
Sultanate of Oman
Syrian Arab Republic
United Arab Emirates

Tiong King Sing


MP for Bintulu		Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS)Progressive Democratic Party (PDP)Special Envoy to People's Republic of China
[21] [22] 		People's Republic of China, Hong Kong and Macao02009-10-01-0320 April 2020

Richard Riot Jaem


MP for Serian		Sarawak United Peoples' Party (SUPP)Special Envoy to East Asia
[23] 		Japan02009-10-01-0316 May 2020
Republic of Korea
Republic of China

Vigneswaran Sanasee
16 December 1965
(age 56)		Barisan Nasional(BN)Malaysian Indian Congress(MIC)Special Envoy to South AsiaRepublic of India02009-10-01-0314 November 2021Ismail Sabri Yaakob
People's Republic of Bangladesh
Kingdom of Bhutan
Republic of Maldives
Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal
Islamic Republic of Pakistan
Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka

Controversy

The appointment of special envoys during the Barisan Nasional (BN) tenure was met with repeated accusations of unnecessary government expenditure due to the high salaries of these appointees.[24] [25] Concerns were also raised regarding the overlap in responsibilities and functions with respective ambassadors already in office(s).[26] When the Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition came to power, all previously appointed special envoys had their tenures cut short.[27] Nonetheless, the PH eventually appointed a single special envoy, albeit without ministerial rank,[28] when Tan Kok Wai was announced as special envoy to the People's Republic of China and concurrently as chairperson of the Malaysia-China Business Council (MCBC) in August 2018.[29] The then-Malaysian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Saifuddin Abdullah, commented that the role of the special envoy would be to "complement" that of the ambassador in specialised areas.[30]

Following the 2020–21 Malaysian political crisis, further controversy erupted when newly appointed prime minister, Muhyiddin Yassin, was accused of appointing individuals as special envoys to secure his position.[31] [32]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 陈国伟：准备接"大信封"·"不主动辞对华特使". 15 May 2020. Sin Chew Daily. 陈. 城周. zh. 4 March 2020.
  2. Web site: Why is Putrajaya paying special advisers higher than PM, asks DAP. 14 May 2020. Anand. Ram. The Edge (Malaysia). 18 November 2015.
  3. Web site: 15 May 2020. Ministerial status opens doors for special envoys, says Nazri. The Edge (Malaysia). 27 September 2012.
  4. Web site: 15 May 2020. Penasihat-penasihat kepada Perdana Menteri adalah "menteri pintu belakang" yang tidak diperlukan. Liew. Chin Tong. Malay. 25 November 2015.
  5. Web site: 15 May 2020. PM's advisers akin to back-door ministers with high pay, says DAP. Jennifer. Gomez. 25 November 2015. The Edge (Malaysia).
  6. Web site: 14 May 2020. 3 January 2011. Bernama. The Star (Malaysia). Samy Vellu begins special envoy duties.
  7. Web site: 14 May 2020. Samy Vellu appointed as special envoy to India. Deccan Herald. 13 December 2010.
  8. Web site: PM Umum Pelantikan Ong Ka Ting Sebagai Duta Khas Ke China. Malay. 22 October 2011. 14 May 2020. The Star (Malaysia).
  9. Web site: Ong bows out of special envoy role. The Star (Malaysia). 12 January 2018. 14 May 2020.
  10. Web site: Othman Dilantik Duta Ke AS. Malay. Paul. Gabriel. 27 February 2012. 15 May 2020. The Star (Malaysia).
  11. Web site: Jamaluddin Jarjis, the prime mover behind Malaysia-US ties. Malay Mail. 5 April 2015. 15 May 2020. Bernama.
  12. Web site: Sarawak DAP pours scorn on Tiong's appointment. Dukau. Papau. 7 January 2014. 14 May 2020. Malaysiakini.
  13. Web site: Tiong appointed special envoy to Far East. The Star (Malaysia). 5 January 2014. Koya. 14 May 2020.
  14. Web site: Khalid appointed Prasarana Chairman and Special Envoy. 5 September 2017. 14 May 2020. New Straits Times.
  15. Web site: Khalid appointed Prasarana chairman, special envoy. Free Malaysia Today. 5 September 2017. Bernama. 14 May 2020.
  16. Web site: Report: Tan Kok Wai says Dr M appointed him special envoy to China. Ruban. A.. 31 August 2018. 14 May 2020. Malay Mail.
  17. Web site: Tan Kok Wai confirmed as Special Envoy to China. The Star (Malaysia). 31 August 2018. 14 May 2020.
  18. Web site: Hadi appointed special envoy to Middle East. Adib. Povera. 2 April 2020. 14 May 2020. New Straits Times.
  19. Web site: Nik Anis. The Star (Malaysia). Hadi appointed as PM's special envoy to Middle East. Mazwin. 2 April 2020. 14 May 2020.
  20. Web site: Hadi, Tiong, Richard Riot to continue as special envoys. The Star. 2 September 2021.
  21. Web site: PMO: Tiong King Sing appointed as PM's minister-level special envoy to China. 20 April 2020. 14 May 2020. Malay Mail.
  22. Web site: PDP chief Tiong is now PM's special envoy to China. The Star (Malaysia). Zakiah. 20 April 2020. Koya. 14 May 2020.
  23. Web site: Riot appointed Prime Minister's special envoy to East Asia. Sibon. Peter. 13 May 2020. 14 May 2020. Dayak Daily.
  24. Web site: 15 May 2020. Samy, several others not needed anymore. 24 August 2018. Daily Express (Malaysia).
  25. Web site: Shahbudin: Special Advisors, Special Envoys should go now. Free Malaysia Today. 15 May 2020. Joe. Fernandez. 14 January 2016.
  26. Web site: Special envoy's role to complement ambassador's, says Saifuddin. 15 May 2020. 2 September 2018. The Star (Malaysia).
  27. Web site: Report: Putrajaya axing special envoys, advisers. Malay Mail. 15 May 2020. 2 July 2018. Justin. Ong.
  28. Web site: 14 August 2018. Raj. Reena. Special envoy not on par with Cabinet members, says law minister. Malay Mail. 15 May 2020.
  29. Web site: 15 May 2020. New Straits Times. Confirmed: Tan Kok Wai is special envoy to China. Mohd. Iskandar. Ibrahim. 31 August 2018.
  30. Web site: 15 May 2020. 1 September 2018. Bernama. DAP man as special envoy to China won't disrupt ambassador Zainuddin, says minister. Free Malaysia Today.
  31. Web site: 6 April 2020. Mohsin. Abdullah. 15 May 2020. What's so special with the Special One?.
  32. Web site: PAS denies Abdul Hadi's appointment as special envoy to Middle East to appease party members. Malay Mail. Bernama. 15 May 2020. 4 April 2020.

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