PETALING JAYA: There is a need to provide a full breakdown of the ministers' trips overseas, which cost a total of around RM44mil in 2024, to ensure accountability, says a transparency group and various leaders.
Malaysia Corruption Watch (MCW) president Jais Abdul Karim raised concerns regarding the 236 official overseas visits made by ministers last year.
Jais said transparency and accountability are fundamental to maintaining public trust.
"If overseas visits yield tangible benefits for the country, they are justifiable.
"However, if these trips lack clear purpose and impact, then the expenditure must be scrutinised," he said, when contacted on Thursday (Feb 20).
The Dewan Rakyat was told that Cabinet ministers collectively made 236 official overseas visits last year, with the Foreign Affairs Minister leading the list with 39 trips, according to official records.
The Prime Minister made 19 trips, while the Investment, Trade and Industry Minister undertook 18.
Others with high overseas engagements include the Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister (15) and the Higher Education Minister (11).
Ministers who made fewer overseas trips include the Youth and Sports Minister, Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Minister, and Federal Territories, with one each.
Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Federal Territories) Dr Zaliha Mustafa stated that official overseas visits by ministers are conducted as part of Malaysia's membership in various international organisations.
Jais called on the government to establish a Ministerial Travel Integrity Framework, ensuring that all official visits adhere to strict guidelines on necessity, cost-effectiveness, and public reporting.
"The rakyat deserves to know that public funds are spent responsibly and in the best interest of the nation," he said.
Each trip, he added, should have a clear objective and measurable outcomes that directly benefit the nation, such as securing foreign investments, strengthening international relations, or enhancing trade agreements.
"A detailed expenditure report should be made public to ensure transparency and prevent misuse of funds," he said.
Former Cabinet minister Tan Sri Rafidah Aziz said that during her 29 years as a minister, each minister – including the Prime Minister – had to present a Cabinet paper and the total expenditure in advance before going on any overseas trip.
"Personally, I think RM44mil is over the top. Travelling a lot around the world during these difficult economic times is certainly not 'madani'," she said.
Opposition lawmakers also asked the government to provide clarification on the figures.
Among them was Arau MP Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim, a former minister in charge of parliament, who also questioned the spending of public funds which was higher compared to previous administrations.
