Parliament: Samy Vellu earns RM27,000 monthly as special envoy

Source: http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2011/4/7/nation/20110407154720&sec=nation

Former Works Minister Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu draws a monthly salary plus allowance of RM27,227.20 in his role as special envoy for infrastructure to India and South Asia, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Nazri Abdul Aziz.

In a written reply to Segambut MP Lim Lip Eng in Parliament, Nazri said Samy Vellu's role as envoy is to help Malaysian construction firms break into the South Asian market. In line with his status as special envoy, which carries the rank of a minister, Samy Vellu also receives "other amenities and allowances" from the Government. Samy Vellu also has six staff in his office in Plaza Sentral, Kuala Lumpur, paid for by the Government. "The job scope of the envoy does not clash with other Malaysian officials in South Asia as his responsibility is only to identify infrastructure projects in the fast-growing region that Malaysian companies can venture into in accordance with local laws and regulations," Nazri said. Besides India, other South Asian countries under Samy Vellu's portfolio include Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan and the Maldives. Samy Vellu was named special envoy for infrastructure to India and South Asia in December by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak after he stepped down as MIC president, a post he held for 31 years.

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