KUALA LUMPUR: The government has agreed to retain PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang as the Prime Minister's Special Envoy to the Middle East, according to the Prime Minister's Office.

It said the Cabinet meeting yesterday also agreed to retain Progressive Democratic Party (PDP) president Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing as the Prime Minister's Special Envoy to China and Serian Member of Parliament Datuk Seri Richard Riot Jaem as the Prime Minister's Special Envoy to East Asia.

The appointment of the trio to the special envoy posts, which are of ministerial rank, was made last year during Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin's administration.

Both Abdul Hadi and Tiong were appointed in April, while Riot, in May.

The Cabinet meeting yesterday was the first chaired by Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob after taking his oath of office as Malaysia's 9th Prime Minister on Aug 21.

-- BERNAMA