No ministerial status for special envoy

Reports by MARTIN CARVALHO, HEMANANTHANI SIVANANDAM, RAHIMY RAHIM and LOSHANA K SHAGAR

CHERAS MP Tan Kok Wai will not enjoy ministerial status as special envoy to China, the House was told.

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Liew Vui Keong said the national DAP chairman would not be entitled to privileges accorded to a minister.

“The appointment of the special envoy by the Prime Minister is on a contract (basis), maybe for two years and is not at the same level of a minister,” Liew said in reply to Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong (BN-Ayer Hitam).

Dr Wee wanted to know the rationale behind Tan’s appointment as Pakatan Harapan had previously criticised Barisan Nasional for such appointments, citing was­tage and redundancy.

Tan, whose appointment was effective Aug 1, said he aimed to further improve bilateral relations with China by capitalising on the strong historical ties between both countries.