KUALA LUMPUR: Putrajaya today said it appointed Tan Kok Wai as the special envoy to China due to his qualifications, with the Cheras MP tasked to facilitate the business relationship between Malaysia and China.
Speaking at the Parliament lobby here today, Transport Minister Anthony Loke said Tan was also from the Malaysia China Business Council which was not a government-linked company (GLC).
Loke was asked whether the Pakatan Harapan government had violated its promise of not having political appointees in GLCs.
“We think he is qualified for the role and Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad has confidence in Tan to strengthen the relationship between the two governments,” he said.
Tan’s appointment came amid the new government’s review of several mega projects funded by Chinese state-owned companies.
The projects included the East Coast Rail Link and oil pipeline projects.