Gov't didn't spend a penny on my overseas trips, says Anwar

PKR president Anwar Ibrahim said his trips abroad since his release from prison in June last year did not incur any cost to the Malaysian government.

Instead, he said the trips had been paid for by his hosts overseas.

“Some people have asked the foreign minister who is paying for Anwar’s tickets. They thought the (Malaysian) government paid for it. The government did not pay a single penny; whoever invites me, pays.

“When I go to China, they pay. When I went to India recently, it was paid for by the Indian government and prime minister. When I go to Qatar next week, I would be welcomed by the Qatar government,” he said in Kuala Lumpur today.

He was speaking during the launch of Lembah Pantai MP Fahmi Fadzil’s service centre, where Anwar also officiated at the reversion of the name “Bangsar South” to “Kampung Kerinchi”.

Anwar told the audience of several hundred people that he had spent his time abroad to give lectures on topics such as investment, digital economy, robotics, and artificial intelligence.

He said he had also convinced the executives of five or six companies in Bangalore to visit Kuala Lumpur to look for investment opportunities, and they are due to arrive soon.

“This is my responsibility as a citizen who happened to have a following overseas because they want to hear what transpired last May when the people had risen up to bring change,” he said, referring to the 14th general election.

Anwar had visited Beijing together with Tanjung Malim MP Chang Lih Kang and special envoy to China Tan Kok Wai on Oct 22 last year. He had also gone on a five-day trip to India on Jan 8.

Apart from the two trips he mentioned, Anwar had also gone for medical treatment in Turkey and a family holiday in the Philippines, during which he had met Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte in their respective countries.

The many trips Anwar made had raised eyebrows amongst netizens, many of whom questioned whether the trips were paid for by the Malaysian government, and if so, in what capacity.

Anwar is currently the Port Dickson MP and is expected to succeed Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad when the latter steps down from office after about two years in office.

 However, he does not hold any government post. -Mkini