KUALA LUMPUR – The government spent nearly RM1 million on official domestic and overseas trips involving Malaysia’s four special envoys in nearly two years.
In a written parliamentary reply on Thursday, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Special Functions) Datuk Abdul Latiff Ahmad said a total of RM923,455.10 was spent on this purpose between January 2020 and June 2022.
Latiff, who was responding to Chan Foong Hin (Kota Kinabalu-PH), said the figure was spent on all four envoys who carried out their special functions and responsibilities.
“The prime minister’s special envoys are always proactive and have held several official meetings with ambassadors and interim chargé d’affaires of the relevant countries to gain direct feedback and to foster bilateral ties through the political, economic, and education aspects.”
Latiff also said the government has always continued efforts to strengthen the economic sector throughout the transition of the endemic phase of Covid-19.
The four special envoys with ministerial status are PAS president Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang for the Middle East, Progressive Democratic Party president Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing for China, Serian MP Datuk Seri Richard Riot in East Asia, and MIC president Tan Sri S. Vigneswaran for South Asia.
Their appointments were made between March and April 2020, shortly after former prime minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin was sworn into office at the time.
Chan had asked for a detailed explanation of the work done by the special envoys, as well as a breakdown of the visits, dates, and expenses incurred between 2020 and 2022.
However, Latiff’s written response did not include an itemised list requested by Chan.
One of Hadi’s latest overseas trips reportedly took place in late January this year when he went to Qatar on a four-day visit to meet with its prime minister Sheikh Khalid Khalifa Abdul Aziz Al-Thani and other dignitaries.
Last September, Hadi said he had met with at least 10 envoys in the Middle East to hold discussions on bilateral cooperation.
“Follow-up action was also taken up among ministers through a series of visits which among others included the increase in the trade of palm oil,” Hadi said, as quoted by Utusan Malaysia.
“We also spoke about the education sector in Egypt and Jordan, apart from cooperation in assisting the people of Palestine. The work has already been done, but is a continuation and elevation (of that).”
The appointments of the envoys were questioned by opposition bloc Pakatan Harapan as it called for a smaller cabinet and the removal of special envoys to continue paying for subsidies on chicken, eggs, cooking oil, petrol and tariffs.
The coalition’s cost of living committee also suggested cutting allowances, especially holiday costs, for cabinet members and deputy ministers as well as fewer overseas trips.
Last September, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob defended the need to appoint special envoys and advisers, and revealed that they each got a RM27,227.20 monthly salary.
In a parliamentary reply, he said the appointments were significant and not a waste, as these individuals had a network of relationships, experience, and specific expertise that can advance state interests.
“Among their responsibilities is improving foreign relations, economy, trade, investment and education. For the Middle Eastern region, it includes increasing cooperation in Islamic matters.” – The Vibes, July 24, 2022
