Like Yen Yen, Najib is overspending on overseas trips

PKR Senator Syed Husin Ali revealed a list detailing Prime minister Najib Abdul Razak's official trips abroad from the time he took office in April 2009. The trips reportedly cost the taxpayer RM9 million.

The list, which was provided by the Prime Minister's Department, showed that visits to Japan, the United States and Vietnam were the most expensive trips out of the 42 trips he conducted. These had cost RM 2 million.

Bizarrely, his first trip abroad as prime minister to attend the Asean Summit in Pattaya in early April, had to be cut short when the delegates at the Asean Summit had to leave within two days as they were caught in local riots. Najib and leaders from 15 countries had to make a quick exit when anti-government protestors stormed the Pattaya Exhibition and Convention Hall, where the summit was being held. That trip cost RM79,000.

Strangely, two other separate trips to Thailand showed two vastly different amounts: RM3,346 in Nov 23 to 25 trip; and RM85,000 in Dec 6 to 10 trip.

The list also stated that Najib spent a total of RM630,500 in a nine-day trip to France from Oct 1 to 9 in 2009.

But the most expensive trip to a single country took place between Sept 20 and Oct 8 this year, when Najib spent RM1,044,000 in a visit to the US.

Syed Husin pointed out that the PM had spent 274 days out of his 588 days in office (up to Nov 19, 2010) overseas and accused him of spending half his time overseas when he should have been taking care of the country's problems.

Admittedly, at a time when we are told to adopt belt-tightening measures, it does appear that Najib is making several overseas trips, when he should instead be tackling several of important issues at home.

Perhaps it is a measure of how ‘generous’ these ministers are, by helping themselves to the public purse. Yen Yen is another minister who has managed to chalk several air miles at taxpayers’ expense when most of the problems her Tourism Ministry faces are at home.

Most of us who have to travel on behalf of our companies have to justify our expenses. Does the Prime minister have to do similar?

Maybe he could furnish us with receipts and an itemised bill to detail what each foreign trip has cost. That would include accommodation, limousine hire and official gifts. What are the costs for his wife, for when he has to take her on an official engagement overseas? How many of his staff accompany him and how much monies do they incur? Is there any allocation for cash to be taken, on these trips? What is the total bill for the security officers who are in charge of protection?

Finally, what is the budget allocation for the PM’s travel and does the actual total spending exceed this?