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Monday September 8, 2008 MYT 8:58:55 PM

Barisan backbenchers fly off to Taiwan (updated)

By JANE RITIKOS


SEPANG: Forty-one Barisan Nasional MPs left for Taipei in Taiwan Monday afternoon for a one-week study trip organised by the Barisan Nasional Backbenchers Club (BCC).

They include nine from Sabah and 10 from Sarawak, said BCC deputy chairman Datuk Bung Mokhtar Radin.

(From left:) Barisan Nasional Backbenchers Club deputy chairman Datuk Bung Mokhtar Radin, BNBCC executive secretary Huan Cheng Guan and Bukit Katil MP Datuk Md. Sirat Abu looking at a list containing the names of other Barisan backbenchers who have decided to join the trip to Taiwan on Sept 8.

The MPs left in two batches - on a 1.45pm Cathay Pacific flight to Hong Kong for a transfer to Taipei, and a 2.20pm China Airlines direct flight to Taipei.

Bung Mokhtar, who is Kinabatangan MP, said another eight were expected to leave on Tuesday, including BBC chairman Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing, and another five on Wednesday.

The expected 54 MPs going on the trip means a 69% turnout out of 78 backbenchers.

Bung Mokhtar said however that the organisers had to “wait and see” who would turn up at the airport to join the trip as some only decided at the last minute.

The MPs quashed speculation that the trip was planned to derail Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s plan to topple the Government on Sept 16 by getting Barisan MPs to jump ship.

“The trip was planned three months ago, to learn about agriculture technologies. Agriculture is the third engine of growth for Malaysia.

“We chose Taiwan two days ago as Taiwan confirmed it was able to conduct our crucial study tour,” he said, adding that they would visit three factories and go to Kaosiung, Taipei and Taitung.

He said this was the best time for the trip as after Hari Raya Parliament would be in session until December.

“There will be more such trips in the future,” he said.

On speculation that the trip was to ensure the MPs were out of the country on Sept 16 he said:

“What is there to be afraid of? The MPs have no intention of leaving and defecting is not something to play around with.”

He also said that 10 MPs from Sabah and 11 from Sarawak were expected to go on the trip.

Anwar had said many MPs from the two states were ready to join him.

“Those who cannot come have prior commitments, are on their umrah (pilgrimage) or at the United Nations General Assembly,” said Bung Mokhtar.

He said the MPs would have to bear their own expenses but declined to say how much the trip would cost. Some MPs brought along their spouses.

However, the MPs The Star interviewed were unsure of the programme’s details, where they would be staying and who would bear expenses.

Batu Sapi MP Datuk Dr Edmund Chong Ket Wah said although the trip was planned three months ago, the details were sketchy as they were finalised in the last minute.

“There’s too much unnecessary suspicion about this trip ,” he said, adding that if they bumped into Anwar in Taiwan “we will say hello.”

Chong said the MPs received different messages asking them to participate in the trip but said attendance was not compulsory.

Labis MP Chua Tee Yong said he and Gelang Patah MP Tan Ah Eng were the only two MCA backbenchers who could join the trip as the other three -- Datuk Seri Ong Ka Ting (Kulai), Datuk Seri Fong Chan Onn (Alor Gajah) and Lee Chee Leong (Kampar) -- were tied up with party elections.

BNBCC vice-chairman Dr Mohd Puad Zarkashi (Batu Pahat MP) said: “If the MPs want to defect, they can do it anywhere.”

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