Sarawak ministry taken to task for nearly RM5 mln overseas study expenses this year

SIBU (Nov 18): The Ministry of Public Health, Housing, and Local Government has been taken to task over its high overseas study expenses amounting to nearly RM5 million this year.

Sibu MP Oscar Ling urged Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Prof Dr Sim Kui Hian, who is Public Health, Housing and Local Government Minister, to provide a detailed explanation of the overseas trips.

“I believe that the ministry needs to inform the public whether the results of these studies are worth the RM5 million spent,” Ling said in a statement today.

He was reacting to recent reports from the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) Sitting stating that the ministry had spent RM2,781,750 for overseas study trips in the first half of the year and subsequently requested an additional RM2,046,600 in the second half for the purpose.

He suggested the ministry should clarify this issue in the DUN to ensure the state’s finances are managed transparently.

“The total, nearing RM5 million, has raised concerns from various quarters.

“Public are curious why the ministry incurred such high expenses for these trips and what the actual outcomes of these studies are,” he said.

Based on his parliamentary experience, Ling claimed government travel expenses tend to be significantly higher when arranged through third-party agencies, as opposed to self-booking online.

The price difference can be several times higher, leading to disproportionately large travel costs, he claimed.

He noted that Parliament has since revised its ticketing and payment procedures to reduce unnecessary expenses.