THINGS appear to be moving in the right direction after Council of Eminent Persons chairman and now special envoy Daim Zainuddin’s visit to China, said Foreign Affairs Minister Saifuddin Abdullah.

“Whether he was successful is another story but he has tried his level best. And things are moving in the right direction,” said Saifuddin after a ceramah in Taman Sri Andalas yesterday. 

Saifuddin stressed that Malaysia is committed to honouring its commitments and wants to maintain good ties with China.

“Yes, we have issues and our friends in Beijing understand that, too, but the fact that a special envoy was sent means we want to sit down and discuss matters. 

“Our prime minister is committed to better relations and that is why he is visiting China on August 17,” he said.

When asked if Daim has briefed Wisma Putra, Saifuddin said: “Daim had been briefed before going to China last week and his office debriefed the ministry.”

On Daim’s tasks in China, Saifuddin said they had to do with “the contracts signed by the previous government”.

But he declined to elaborate on Daim’s mandate, as the latter’s duty was to report to Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

Since taking over Putrajaya, the Pakatan Harapan government has found discrepancies in two contracts signed with Chinese companies.

Pakatan said the East Coast Rail Link project and the Trans-Sabah Gas Pipeline contracts, signed by Barisan Nasional, were lopsided.

On the use of Daim as a special envoy, Saifuddin said it was normal practice.

“Using special envoys is something that Malaysia and other countries practise when it comes to foreign affairs.”

Prior to Daim, BN appointed former works minister S. Samy Vellu as a special envoy to India and former housing minister Ong Ka Ting to China. – July 25, 2018.