Foreign minister says Tan is special envoy to China

KUALA LUMPUR: The poser over the status of DAP chairman Tan Kok Wai as special envoy to China has been resolved after Foreign Minister Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah confirmed the appointment.

Saifuddin said Tan’s appointment was made at a recent cabinet meeting.

“He was appointed by the cabinet as a special envoy to China,” he said in a WhatsApp message to the New Straits Times Press yesterday.

The confirmation puts to rest the confusion that arose following conflicting statements from Tan and Saifuddin.

Reports had indicated that Tan, who is Cheras member of parliament, had been named special envoy to China.

Saifuddin, in an interview, had refuted the report and said Tan was only Malaysia-China Business Council (MCBC) chairman.

Tan, meanwhile, told NSTP that he was appointed special envoy to China as well as MCBC chairman from Aug 1.

“The foreign minister (Saifuddin) has confirmed that the cabinet agreed to my appointment as the special envoy to China, as well as the MCBC chairman. Thank you,” Tan said in a text message.

Tan’s appointment was met with criticism from opposition leaders as Pakatan Harapan had previously lambasted the Barisan Nasional government over such appointments, deeming them a waste of funds.

Former MCA president Tan Sri Ong Ka Ting was the BN government’s special envoy to China. He served three terms, from November 2011 up to his resignation in January this year.

DAP national organising secretary Anthony Loke, however, said Tan’s appointment did not go against PH’s election manifesto, as it was not a political appointee for a government-linked company, but as a government representative.