RECENTLY, there have been negative reports that Malaysian diplomats were not getting a good deal, especially in allowances when serving overseas. In fact, several government backbenchers called on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Wisma Putra) to improve the facilities and benefits enjoyed by our senior officials - aptly, as they represent Malaysia in the capacity of leaders who facilitate trade between us and other countries. Among the main grouses were that our diplomats' cars, especially the ambassadors' and official embassy cars, were past their prime, and that the ambassadors' monthly entertainment allowances of between RM500 and RM3,000 were considered too little. Another bone of contention was that the education allowance provided to cover the cost of primary and secondary education was inadequate. Some quarters feel it should be extended to university level.
So, how far does the truth extend in these issues? The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar, declined to comment. However, Malaysian Business decided to obtain views from former diplomats, senior officials and heads of Malaysian trade missions abroad. Some of them had served Wisma Putra in countries ranging from Africa, Myanmar and Cambodia to more well-to-do nations like Japan, Germany, Europe and the United States.
Tan Sri Ajit Singh, a retired diplomat who had served in the 70s and 80s, has this to say: `This is not a real issue at all. When we consider this matter we have to look at the macro level. On the contrary, our diplomats are generally a well looked after bunch. The yardstick Wisma Putra follows is what the United Nations' top brass receive. On top of getting their regular local salaries, these diplomats get a cost of living allowance, more than decent accommodation, a one-off relocation allowance, a tax-free car and miscellaneous claims.'
The cost of living allowance varies from country to country and the denomination our diplomats' get varies according to the country they serve in, Ajit adds. `For instance, in developed countries like Europe, the US, Japan and Australia, diplomats get their allowances in the denomination of these countries. In Third World and developing countries, our diplomats get paid in either US dollars or Euros.'
Kanny Sadayandy, retired Malaysian Industrial Development Authority (Mida) director covering Scandinavian countries, says Malaysian diplomats are quite unlike diplomats from certain countries who are given a limited lump sum of allowance. The money is used both for accommodation as well as for entertainment. Sadayandy says sometimes the accommodation chosen by the ambassadors of these countries could be substandard, which give their country a bad name. `Meanwhile, our own diplomats are ensured of good living conditions befitting their status. In turn, they are given a separate entertainment allowance,' explains Sadayandy, who also served as Economic Counsellor for the Malaysian embassy in Sweden.
Ajit adds that our diplomats are also exempted from local sales, income and liquor taxes. `All these little perks add up to quite a bit,' he says. Sadayandy goes one step further. He says that up to 90% of our ambassadors' utility bills are paid by the government. `Does this not amount to big savings?' he questions.
However, government backbenchers in Parliament have a different story to tell. For one, Datuk Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar, the Member of Parliament (MP) for Santubong in Sarawak, has been quoted in Parliament as saying that `Some of our ambassadors abroad are still driving around in cars which look like they were used by vegetable sellers. These people are our representatives in other countries, and the government should take concerted efforts to enhance and upgrade the benefits and facilities they enjoy.'
Wan Junaidi's views were supported by Datuk Abdul Rahim Bakri, the MP for Kudat in Sabah. Abdul Rahim felt our diplomats' allowances were small compared to countries like Indonesia - where their ambassadors are allowed unlimited sums.
He went on to comment that some of our diplomatic counterparts from much poorer countries are better taken care of. For instance, several ambassadors he had visited did not even have a personal fax machine. They had to share it with others, which Wan Junaidi said was embarrassing. Oddly, the former head of a Malaysian trade organisation feels otherwise. `We have to consider the issues in a realistic way. For instance, with regards to ambassadors' and official cars, our foreign missions are allowed to change cars every five years. I believe this policy was carried out until the 1997 financial crisis. This may have been changed to perhaps seven years after that.'
He adds that it is an unwritten rule that our ambassadors also prefer the German marque Mercedes Benz over other makes, using our ambassadors' in Japan as an example. `I am quite certain that the Japanese- made Toyota Lexus measures up to the standard of a Mercedes Benz, or even better. Moreover, being a Japanese make, the maintenance cost would logically be lower. Similarly, the French and the Americans have wonderful cars of their own, but unfortunately, our ambassadors insist on Mercedes Benzes. With naturally higher maintenance costs, how often would one expect our missions abroad to repair these cars? Can you blame our cars for looking like vegetable sellers' cars then? In any case, I am sure our cars are maintained enough to reflect the developed status of our country.' On the other hand, with regards to fax machines, Sadayandy says this can be solved if we were to reduce the number of non-essential staff at foreign missions - as they do not contribute to any real value- added service at all. `Then the ambassadors can own their own fax machines,' he adds.
As for the insufficient entertainment allowances, Sadayandy adds, in reality what must be looked into is whether the allowances our diplomats receive are put to good use. `Are these allowances used to support the aspirations of the country vis-a-vis to promote trade and tourism? You will be surprised at the answer.`Ask how many of our diplomats really meet up with heads of states, foreign media editors or even officials of trade organisations?' Sadayandy questions.
However, he concedes, diplomats' allowances do need to be reviewed on a regular basis of around five years, considering the cost of living in these countries. `In some European countries there is no such thing as controlled prices for essential goods. Take, for instance, Sweden, where one formal dinner outing can wipe out at least RM1,500.
`Our officers at Wisma Putra need not travel to these countries to assess the situation. All they need to do is go through the Internet. It is that simple these days.' Attempts to get a scale of the allowance of diplomats were unsuccessful. For some strange reason, such information is deemed confidential.
Elsewhere, on the matter of education, while some feel the government's policy to cover the cost of educating diplomats' children until the secondary level is inadequate, Sadayandy feels otherwise. The question he raises is that ambassadors should use their discretion when sending their children to private international schools in English-speaking countries like the US, Australia, Canada and even the UK.
`I understand if in countries like Japan, Myanmar or Germany our diplomats were to send their children to rather expensive international schools. However, I also feel public education in English- speaking countries is comparable to private education, and obviously comes at a lower fee. Is this necessary? The money saved could be used by our diplomats to perhaps partially cover tertiary education if they choose to educate their children abroad. Children who, as young adults, can fend for themselves can return home and enrol in our local universities,' one senior government official says.
In the final analysis, life as a Malaysian diplomat abroad is good, as there is never any dearth in our diplomats wanting to serve overseas. `The supply outstrips the demand, especially for countries like Japan, Germany, US and Australia. Even for less developed countries, our diplomats are provided with special allowances. What more can they ask for?' a former ambassador questions.
As Sadayandy sums it up: `The more pertinent question is whether the allowances given are spent on worthwhile duties, albeit being reviewed periodically, otherwise the purpose of our foreign missions to attract foreign direct investments to our country would be defeated altogether.'
Note: The article above was published in Malaysian Business magazine in its 16 December 2004 edition. I have only one thing to add.
The type of allowances that Malaysian diplomats received are well laid out in "Pekeliling Perkhidmatan Bil. 2 Tahun 1994" under Peraturan Khidmat Luar Negeri. If you are interested, you may wish to google it and you will find out that our diplomats are not that lavish-spender abroad.
Your kind comments are appreciated.
