Special Envoy of the Prime Minister of Malaysia

Last updated

Special Envoy of the
Prime Minister of Malaysia
Duta Khas Perdana Menteri Malaysia
Coat of arms of Malaysia.svg
Incumbent
Abdul Hadi Awang
Tiong King Sing
Richard Riot Jaem
Vigneswaran Sanasee
since 2 April 2020
since 20 April 2020
since 16 May 2020
since 14 November 2021
Style Yang Berhormat
(The Honourable)
unless otherwise specified
Reports to Parliament
Nominator Prime Minister
Appointer Yang di-Pertuan Agong
Term length Two years [1] [2]
Formation1 January 2011
First holder Samy Vellu
Salary RM27,227.20 per month [3]

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] A 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 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]

Contents

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):

CoalitionMember partyAppointee(s)
   Barisan Nasional (BN)   Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA)1
   Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC)
   Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party (SPDP)
   United Malays National Organisation (UMNO)
   Pakatan Harapan (PH)   Democratic Action Party (DAP)
   Gagasan Sejahtera (GS)   Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS)
Muafakat Nasional (MN)
   Perikatan Nasional (PN)
   Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS)   Progressive Democratic Party (PDP)
   Sarawak United Peoples' Party (SUPP)
*Appointment with ministerial rank
PortraitName
(Birth–Death)
Constituency (if any)
Political coalitionPolitical partyAppointmentAreas and portfoliosTook officeLeft officeTime in office Prime Minister
The Minister for Shipping, Road Transport and Highways Shri T. R. Baalu meeting with the Minister of Works, Malaysia Dato' Seri S. Samy Vellu in New Delhi on June 21, 2004.jpg Tun
Samy Vellu
SSM SUMW SSAP PNBS SPMP
8 March 1936 - 15 September 2022(2022-09-15) (aged 86)
Barisan Nasional (BN) Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC)Special Envoy of Infrastructure to India and South Asia
[9] [10]
Flag of India.svg Republic of India 1 January 201130 June 20187 years and 181 days Najib Razak
Flag of Bangladesh.svg People's Republic of Bangladesh
Flag of Bhutan.svg Kingdom of Bhutan
Flag of Maldives.svg Republic of Maldives
Flag of Nepal.svg Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal
Flag of Pakistan.svg Islamic Republic of Pakistan
Flag of Sri Lanka.svg Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka
Tan Sri Dato' Seri
Ong Ka Ting
PMN DPMS SPMP DPMP
15 November 1956
(age 66)
Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA)Special Envoy to China
[11] [1]
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg People's Republic of China 1 November 201131 December 20176 years and 61 days
Jamaluddin Jarjis (cropped).jpg Tan Sri Dato' Seri
Jamaluddin Jarjis
PSM SPMP SSAP SJMK SIMP DIMP
25 May 1951 – 4 April 2015(2015-04-04) (aged 63)
MP for Rompin
United Malays National Organisation (UMNO)Special Envoy to the United States
[12] [13]
Flag of the United States.svg United States of America 1 March 20124 April 20153 years and 35 days
Dato Sri
Tiong King Sing
PNBS SSAP PJN DPMK SSSA DSSA
3 September 1961
(age 61)
MP for Bintulu
Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party (SPDP)Special Envoy to East Asia
[14] [15]
Flag of Japan.svg Japan 3 January 201430 June 20184 years and 179 days
Flag of Korea (1899).svg Republic of Korea
Flag of the Republic of China.svg Republic of China
IGP TS Khalid Abu Bakar.jpg Tan Sri Dato' Seri
Khalid Abu Bakar
PMN PSM SPDK SPTS SSTM SSIS SJMK SSAP DCSM DHMS DPMS DIMP
5 September 1957
(age 65)
Special Envoy of Combating Terrorism, Extremism and Human Trafficking
[16] [17]
5 September 2017299 days
Tuan
Tan Kok Wai
7 October 1957
(age 66)
MP for Cheras
Pakatan Harapan (PH) Democratic Action Party (DAP)Special Envoy to China
[18] [19]
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg People's Republic of China 25 July 20181 March 20201 year and 220 days Mahathir Mohamad
Tan Sri Dato' Seri Tuan Guru Haji
Abdul Hadi Awang
PSM SSMT
20 October 1947
(age 75)
MP for Marang
Perikatan Nasional (PN) Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS)Special Envoy to the Middle East
[20] [21] [22]
Flag of Saudi Arabia.svg Kingdom of Saudi Arabia 2 April 2020Incumbent3 years and 139 days Muhyiddin Yassin

Ismail Sabri Yaakob

Anwar Ibrahim
Flag of Bahrain.svg Kingdom of Bahrain
Flag of Egypt.svg Arab Republic of Egypt
Flag of Jordan.svg Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan
Flag of Kuwait.svg State of Kuwait
Flag of Lebanon.svg Lebanese Republic
Flag of Oman.svg Sultanate of Oman
Flag of Syria.svg Syrian Arab Republic
Flag of the United Arab Emirates.svg United Arab Emirates
Dato Sri
Tiong King Sing
PNBS SSAP PJN DPMK SSSA DSSA
3 September 1961
(age 61)
MP for Bintulu
Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) Progressive Democratic Party (PDP)Special Envoy to People's Republic of China
[23] [24] [22]
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg People's Republic of China, Hong Kong and Macao 20 April 20203 years and 121 days
Dato Sri
Richard Riot Jaem
PNBS SSAP PJN KMN
1 December 1951
(age 71)
MP for Serian
Sarawak United Peoples' Party (SUPP)Special Envoy to East Asia
[25] [24] [22]
Flag of Japan.svg Japan 16 May 20203 years and 95 days
Flag of Korea (1899).svg Republic of Korea
Flag of the Republic of China.svg Republic of China
Tan Sri Dato' Sri
Vigneswaran Sanasee

PSM SSAP DPSM
16 December 1965
(age 56)

Barisan Nasional

(BN)

Malaysian Indian Congress

(MIC)

Special Envoy to South Asia Flag of India.svg Republic of India 14 November 20211 year and 278 days Ismail Sabri Yaakob

Anwar Ibrahim
Flag of Bangladesh.svg People's Republic of Bangladesh
Flag of Bhutan.svg Kingdom of Bhutan
Flag of Maldives.svg Republic of Maldives
Flag of Nepal.svg Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal
Flag of Pakistan.svg Islamic Republic of Pakistan
Flag of Sri Lanka.svg 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. [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

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