COMMENT | Special envoys – what are their job scopes?

COMMENT | Since Perikatan Nasional came into power on March 1, Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin has appointed three special envoys.

PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang was the first to be appointed (read “rewarded”) in early April, followed by PDP president Tiong King Sing two weeks later. SUPP deputy president Richard Riot’s appointment came some 10 days ago.

Hadi Awang is Special Envoy to the Middle East; Tiong to China while Riot has been assigned to East Asia, notably Japan, South Korea and Taiwan.

These lucky guys are not your ordinary ambassador or high commissioner. They are the “special” ones.

Members of the diplomatic corps who have served possibly their entire life at Wisma Putra may never get to reach the top - that is to be an ambassador or high commissioner.

And here comes those with no diplomatic credentials appointed as special envoys...