Special_Envoy_of_the_Prime_Minister_of_Malaysia

Special Envoy of the Prime Minister of Malaysia

Special Envoy of the Prime Minister of Malaysia

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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.[4] 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.[5] They are often appointed with the rank equivalent to a minister.[6] 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][7][8]

Quick Facts Special Envoy of the Prime Minister of Malaysia, Style ...

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.[7][8] Nevertheless, Ong was listed as receiving a monthly salary of RM20,000 during his earlier terms as special envoy.[4]

List of special envoys of the prime ministers of Malaysia

Colour key (for political coalition/parties):

More information Coalition, Member party ...
* Appointment with ministerial rank
More information Portrait, Name (Birth–Death)Constituency (if any) ...

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.[26][27][7] Concerns were also raised regarding the overlap in responsibilities and functions with respective ambassadors already in office(s).[28] When the Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition came to power, all previously appointed special envoys had their tenures cut short.[6] Nonetheless, the PH eventually appointed a single special envoy, albeit without ministerial rank,[5] 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

References

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