http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2014/06/09/dpms-overseas-trips-stretched-for-leisure
9 June 2014
KUALA LUMPUR: Bukit Bendera MP Zairil Khir Johari and Bukit Mertajam MP Steven Sim questioned Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin’s Australian trip to Melbourne and the Gold Coast in 2012.
“The programme had been deliberately stretched to over one week, to enable them to have a leisure trip,” said Zairil in reference to Muhyiddin’s trip from Nov 10 to Nov 18, 2012, to officiate at the fourth World Chinese Economic Forum.
“On Nov 14 and 15, Muhyiddin attended a daily one-hour briefing whereas on Nov 16 he had a full-day private programme,” said Zairil based on information that was leaked-out online.
He also questioned Muhyiddin’s rationale in bringing along up to five bodyguards for the trip.
“Are you going there to attend a conference or are you going for war?” Zairil asked.
The entourage was said to have comprised 17 persons who were all political appointees. None of the persons involved were representatives of the Ministry of Education.
“The flight to Melbourne and the Gold Coast was made by a special aircraft and the trip was of no benefit to the Ministry of Education or the nation,” Zairil added.
Extending trips becoming a trend?
Sim questioned the absence of ministry representatives on the trip.
“Was the trip organised in a such a way because the DPM has no trust in civil servants or was it a private trip?”
Sim also took the Chief Secretary to the Government Ali Hamsa to task over his warning to civil servants, several days ago, against their leaking of information.
“Ali should be protecting the whistleblowers and not defending those who abuse their positions,” Sim said.
He added that the Whistleblower Protection Act 2010 is to protect the identity of the whistleblowers as well as to protect them from legal suits and any detrimental action.
In April this year, Zairil had exposed the excesses of Muhyiddin’s trip to Dubai.
Both MP’s said that there appears to be a trend of stretching Muhyiddin’s travel itinerary to include vacation trips.
9 June 2014
“The programme had been deliberately stretched to over one week, to enable them to have a leisure trip,” said Zairil in reference to Muhyiddin’s trip from Nov 10 to Nov 18, 2012, to officiate at the fourth World Chinese Economic Forum.
“On Nov 14 and 15, Muhyiddin attended a daily one-hour briefing whereas on Nov 16 he had a full-day private programme,” said Zairil based on information that was leaked-out online.
He also questioned Muhyiddin’s rationale in bringing along up to five bodyguards for the trip.
“Are you going there to attend a conference or are you going for war?” Zairil asked.
The entourage was said to have comprised 17 persons who were all political appointees. None of the persons involved were representatives of the Ministry of Education.
“The flight to Melbourne and the Gold Coast was made by a special aircraft and the trip was of no benefit to the Ministry of Education or the nation,” Zairil added.
Extending trips becoming a trend?
Sim questioned the absence of ministry representatives on the trip.
“Was the trip organised in a such a way because the DPM has no trust in civil servants or was it a private trip?”
Sim also took the Chief Secretary to the Government Ali Hamsa to task over his warning to civil servants, several days ago, against their leaking of information.
“Ali should be protecting the whistleblowers and not defending those who abuse their positions,” Sim said.
He added that the Whistleblower Protection Act 2010 is to protect the identity of the whistleblowers as well as to protect them from legal suits and any detrimental action.
In April this year, Zairil had exposed the excesses of Muhyiddin’s trip to Dubai.
Both MP’s said that there appears to be a trend of stretching Muhyiddin’s travel itinerary to include vacation trips.
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