PM’s foreign trips cost RM26m

Najib's trips abroad for the past three and a half years cost a whopping RM26 million, and DAP wants more details on the benefits of these visits.

KUALA LUMPUR: In three year and a half years, Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak’s trips abroad cost the nation about RM26 million.

This was revealed by Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Nazri Abdul Aziz in a written reply to Bukit Bendera MP (DAP) Liew Chin Tong.

A total of f 74 trips since April 2009 specifically cost RM26,080,144.39. To date, the prime minister had gone on trips abroad with 1,108 accompanying officers.

In 2011, which recorded the most expenditure, the premier went on 27 trips along with 425 officers. The total amount spent during trips for the year was RM12,568,227.49.

Meanwhile, RM4,935,697.23 was spent on the eight trips he had made so far this year. Some RM5,133,875.99 was spent on 17 trips in 2010 and RM3,442,343.68 was spent on 22 trips abroad in 2009.

The written reply, however, did not contain specifics as to whether all of these trips were made in his capacity as prime minister.

Speaking to reporters later, Liew said the government must produce a more detailed list.

“I asked for a detailed list but they gave me a general answer instead. The PM needs to specifically state the benefits of all of these visits abroad,” he added.

Najib’s foreign trips had always come under scrunity by the opposition, which argued that the trips were expensive and did not guarantee returns.