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. 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.

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. 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): Coalition Member party Appointee(s) 1 Muafakat Nasional (MN)

*Appointment with ministerial rank

Portrait Name(Birth–Death)Constituency (if any) Political coalition Political party Appointment Areas and portfolios Took office Left office Time in office Prime Minister Samy Vellu Barisan Nasional (BN) Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC) Special Envoy of Infrastructure to India and South Asia Republic of India 02009-10-01-031 January 2011 02009-10-01-0330 June 2018 Najib 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 People's Republic of China 02009-10-01-031 November 2011 02009-10-01-0331 December 2017 Jamaluddin JarjisMP for Rompin United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) Special Envoy to the United States United States of America 02009-10-01-031 March 2012 02009-10-01-034 April 2015 Tiong King SingMP for Bintulu Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party (SPDP) Special Envoy to East Asia Japan 02009-10-01-033 January 2014 02009-10-01-0330 June 2018 Republic of Korea Republic of China Khalid Abu Bakar – – Special Envoy of Combating Terrorism, Extremism and Human Trafficking – – 02009-10-01-035 September 2017 Tan Kok WaiMP for Cheras Pakatan Harapan (PH) Democratic Action Party (DAP) Special Envoy to China People's Republic of China 02009-10-01-0325 July 2018 02009-10-01-031 March 2020 Mahathir Mohamad Abdul Hadi AwangMP for Marang Perikatan Nasional (PN) Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS) Special Envoy to the Middle East Kingdom of Saudi Arabia 02009-10-01-032 April 2020 24 November 2022 Muhyiddin 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 SingMP for Bintulu Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) Progressive Democratic Party (PDP) Special Envoy to People's Republic of China People's Republic of China, Hong Kong and Macao 02009-10-01-0320 April 2020 Richard Riot JaemMP for Serian Sarawak United Peoples' Party (SUPP) Special Envoy to East Asia Japan 02009-10-01-0316 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 Asia Republic of India 02009-10-01-0314 November 2021 Ismail 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. Concerns were also raised regarding the overlap in responsibilities and functions with respective ambassadors already in office(s). When the Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition came to power, all previously appointed special envoys had their tenures cut short. Nonetheless, the PH eventually appointed a single special envoy, albeit without ministerial rank, 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. 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.

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.

See also

List of ambassadors and high commissioners of Malaysia List of diplomatic missions of Malaysia Foreign relations of Malaysia

References