Chong demands transparency on S'wak govt's ‘extravagant' overseas trips
Chong shows the letter from the august House that rejected Yong's question.
KUCHING (May 23): Chong Chieng Jen (DAP-Padungan) has called on the Sarawak government to be transparent by disclosing details of its official overseas trips.
During a heated debate at today's Sarawak Legislative Assembly (DUN) sitting, Chong expressed concerns over the Supplementary Supply Bill, which was recently passed with a total allocation of RM237.66 billion.
He highlighted that the Premier's Department had requested an additional RM100 million specifically for travel expenses.
'I think spending RM100 million on travelling overseas is extravagant – it is too extravagant,' he said.
He also drew attention to a written question by Violet Yong (DAP-Pending), which was ruled out, for asking for a breakdown of official overseas travel expenses incurred by the Premier, ministers, deputy ministers, and state ministries over the past five years.
The question was rejected on the grounds that it contravened public policy, Chong explained.
'What contravenes public policy – is it the act of asking the question, or the act of spending too much money to go overseas?' Chong further questioned.
'Don't treat us like three-year-old kids, we are not asking for the itinerary of the Premier. She (Yong) is asking for the information on the expenses for the past five years for overseas trips,' he added.
Calling Yong's query a reasonable request, Chong later told a press conference that the Premier's Office should publish such information on its official website.
'The answer that was given by the Deputy Speaker Datuk Idris Buang is totally unacceptable, as he said this was due to security reasons.
'I directly confronted him, brushed aside such explanation so that you don't treat us as three-year-old kids,' he said. Chong Chieng Gen DUN expanditure expenses overseas trips
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