KUALA LUMPUR – More opposition MPs have today come forward to accuse the government of concealing key details regarding expenditure on overseas trips.
This time, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob’s six-day official working visit to Japan in May became the centre of attention, with Teresa Kok (Seputeh-PH) questioning the failure to divulge information on the travel delegation then.
Speaking in the Dewan Rakyat, Kok pointed out that Special Functions Minister Abdul Latiff Ahmad (Mersing-PN), in a reply to her July 21 query submitted to Parliament, had failed to provide a breakdown of the expenditure.
The DAP lawmaker argued that this could be construed as misleading the Dewan Rakyat, and necessitate action under Standing Order 36(12) of the House.
“My question to the prime minister then was how many official delegates and how many private parties had accompanied the prime minister to Japan this year, and the expenditure breakdown, either funded by the government or private entities.
“The answer by the minister (Latiff) only stated the objective of the trip, but made no mention of spending,” she said today.
Kok added that a question on the matter that was submitted to Parliament yesterday to be included in today's Ministers’ Question Time was also rejected.
“Previously, such questions were answered. Being a government means you must be transparent in reporting to the Dewan. Why wasn’t my question answered?”
Deputy Speaker Datuk Ramli Mohd Nor, who was chairing the session, suggested that Kok write to Speaker Tan Sri Azhar Azizan Harun to seek a ruling.
However, the MP clarified that she had indeed written to Azhar previously, with the latter saying that he has no power on the matter.
Ramli then proposed sending another notice to the speaker to demand further explanation and express her dissatisfaction.
“The only one who has the power to decide on such matters is the speaker.
“I am only carrying out the duty as his deputy. If I’m the speaker, then it’s a different story,” he said, when asked by Kok if she could file the notice to him instead.
M. Kula Segaran (Ipoh Barat-PH) then pointed out that he had raised a similar issue of ministers concealing overseas trip expenditure details yesterday, questioning the accountability of those in power.
“When the government spends, don’t we have the right to know? Don’t the rakyat need to know?” he asked.
Ramli however maintained his position that the matter could only be addressed by Azhar.
Yesterday, Kula Segaran had proposed action against Human Resources Minister Datuk Seri M. Saravanan for supposedly hiding the spending details of Human Resources Development Corporation’s top guns for overseas visits conducted since 2020. – The Vibes, August 2, 2022
