RM17m spent on PM and wife's overseas trips

The government spent a total of RM17 million on official visits overseas by the prime minister and his spouse between 2008 and mid-2011.

A parliamentary written reply to Batu MP Tian Chua also stated that RM8 million was spent on official visits overseas by the deputy prime minister and his spouse during the same period.

Based on data to date, the cost of visits by the prime minister and his spouse has been grown from RM1.74 million in 2008 to RM5.4 million in 2010.

For the first half of 2011, the expenditure has exceeded that of 2010.

In contrast, costs incurred by visits abroad by the deputy premier and his spouse have decreased from RM2.75 million in 2008 to RM1.39 million in 2010.

Still, in the first half of 2011, the cost has doubled that of 2010.

Abdullah Ahmad Badawi was prime minister throughout 2008 while Najib Abdul Razak was his deputy. Najib took over from Abdullah on April 9, 2009. - Malaysiakini