KUALA LUMPUR: DAP today claimed there are discrepancies in Tourism Minister Dr Ng Yen Yen's overseas trip expenses which varied from those given to Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Rakyat MPs.
DAP Youth chief and Rasah MP Anthony Loke said that the minister's written reply to him on Monday stated that the total costs of her trips from January to October this year amounted to RM1.28 million.
This was in contrast to the figures given to former MCA president and Pandan MP Ong Tee Keat on Oct 26, where she said the ministry had spent some RM 1.58 million for the same trips.
Loke opened “fire” when he said sarcastically that he was “touched” when Ng handed a written reply personally to him yesterday, but a notice handed today said there were "errors" in yesterday's reply.
The Rasah MP then noted that based on the reply given to him, Ng’s trip to Dubai, Qatar and Kuwait from May 4 to 12 cost RM97,000 but in another reply given to Batu MP Chua Tian Chang on Oct 19, the figure was RM240,145.
“We do not know which one is the correct answer. We are directing the minister to please tell us... clarify this. This is unprofessional on the part of the minister. Please do not give us answers which are contradictory,” Loke said at a press conference at the Parliament lobby here.
Loke then zoomed in on Ng’s week-long trip to Europe, from May 25 to 31, which cost RM491,987, saying it was exorbitant and demanded an explanation.
“Half a million spent in seven days for trips to London, Munich and Milan? What is this? A shopping trip?"
On Oct 26, the tourism ministry stated that Ng spent RM3.5 million on "official" overseas mission since she was appointed minister last year.
However, a different figure was given to Ong in a written reply which stated that the ministry had spent RM1.67 million for the same official overseas trips.
The same reply also boasted higher tourist receipts and that the ministry’s efforts overseas had earned Malaysia a ninth out of 10th placing in the most popularly visited countries in 2009.
Pakatan lawmakers have accused Ng of excessive spending overseas, saying she was being more of a “tourist” than “minister”.
Ng dismissed the accusations, insisting that the ministry was on promotional activities abroad and attributed the purported expansion of the country’s tourism industry to her trips.
Tourism Ministry's travel expenses have ballooned by 40% since 2008 while its promotion budget decreased by nearly 70% in the same period.
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