MELAKA, June 12 (Bernama) — The government covered almost half a million ringgit in cost for former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s trip to Japan to attend the annual Nikkei conference last month, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
Anwar said the government allocated approximately RM486,000 for the visit after receiving a formal application from Tun Dr Mahathir.
“There are existing provisions for former prime ministers to apply (for government support for official travel)…and if the sitting prime minister approves, the government will bear the cost, including for Tun Mahathir, who recently requested to attend the Nikkei conference in Japan. He applied, and I approved. I believe the delegation was around seven people.
“I have people asking me why pay for him. He is entitled to apply, but the decision rests with the sitting prime minister…and I decided to approve that RM486,000 for him to go to Japan.
“I just don’t want anyone to misunderstand…I just don’t want to take a negative attitude. Despite his daily criticisms of the government, we still approved his (travel) application,” Anwar told reporters here today.
— BERNAMA