Tan Kok Wai is not appointed special envoy through back doors, Liew Chin Tong should give full support

Congratulations to DAP national chairman Tan Kok Wai for his appointment as the special envoy to China! I hope he can shoulder the responsibility of strengthening Malaysia-China relations, and I urge Senator Liew Chin Tong to give full cooperation and support to Tan Kok Wai.  

The position of special envoy to China comes with heavy responsibility. As early as during the time former MCA President Tan Sri Ong Ka Ting, Liew Chin Tong has lambasted Ong’s position as special envoy to China, claiming that salaries of government-appointed advisers were higher than the Prime Minister’s, having overlapping duties with the Foreign Affairs Ministry. He has also urged the former Barisan government to abolish the post of special envoy.

Kindly refer to news:

http://www.theedgemarkets.com/article/pm%E2%80%99s-advisers-akin-back-door-ministers-high-pay-says-dap

http://ch.therakyatpost.com/national-news/200564

 https://www.malaysiakini.com/news/320012

http://www.malaysia-today.net/2013/10/11/why-appoint-samy-ong-as-special-envoys/

Ong Ka Ting had volunteered to be the special envoy to China from November 2013 onwards without any salary reimbursement, to help consolidate the relations between China and Malaysia. During his three-terms of six years and 2 months, he successfully coordinated important cooperation matters, and strengthened trade investment activities of both nations. This includes landmark projects like Industrial Parks, Xiamen University’s Malaysian campus, Digital Free Trade Zone.

We have the same high hopes for Tan Kok Wai to carry out his duty as a special envoy. Even though Tan Kok Wai did not volunteer to do it without salary reimbursement, we hope Liew Chin Tong will not use the same old argument to lambast the newly-minted special envoy this time round. After all, this is not an easy task. On the contrary, Liew Chin Tong should give full cooperation to ensure that Tan Kok Wai can achieve greater achievements and make greater contributions to the country, way ahead of his predecessor.

Ever since Pakatan formed the federal government, not only has it not abolished the appointment/position of special envoy on claims of overlapping duties, it also gave such an important role to DAP. Liew Chin Tong need not feel ashamed of this. There is also no conflict of interests as Tan Kok Wai was not appointed through back doors, and is indeed the incumbent Member of Parliament for Cheras.

Lau Chin Kok
MCA Publicity Bureau Deputy Chairman

-MCA  online-