The Selangor state government had spent a total of RM349,134 for former Menteri Besar Mohd Khir Toyo's 21 foreign trips from September 2001 to January last year, the state assembly was told today.

Revealing this today, current MB Abdul Khalid Ibrahim said among the destinations which Khir visited included London, Bangkok, Beijing, Los Angeles, Dubai, Osaka, Tokyo, Seoul, Taipei, Paris, Perth, Milan, Venice and Amsterdam.

khalid ibrahim and khir toyo selangor Khalid said the amount was derived from expenses record lodged at the Menteri Besar's office.

However he added that the cost incurred for accommodation, food and others were still being checked by his office.

He said this while answering a question by Mohamad Azmin Ali (PKR-Bukit Antarabangsa) today.

Azmin's questions were on the total amount of cost incurred by the state government from 2000 as well as on the agent who arranged the travel arrangements of the menteri besar.

To the question on agents, Khalid said that the arrangements were undertaken by Green Adventure Holidays Sdn Bhd. He also said that his office was still looking into the other agents who were involved.

He also said that there had been no evidence of any relationship between Khir and Green Adventure.

However he added that the state government has now appointed Tourism Selangor Sdn Bhd to make all travelling arrangements for the state.

He also said that other independent agents would also be used from time to time to avoid a case of monopoly by the new agents.

"However most of our exco members are interested in purchasing their air tickets directly, especially from AirAsia, as a result of high costs in doing business via agents," he said, as reported by Bernama .

Family links to travel agency

azmin ali Talking to reporters later, Azmin said that Green Adventure Holiday had not only monopolised making travel arrangements for Khir but also for BN exco members as well as for the staff of state agency KDEB.

He said that the details of Green Adventure Holiday's involvement were unearthed recently.

He added that there were also other travel agencies who were involved in making travel arrangements for Khir and his exco members. These companies however only played a limited role, added Azmin.

Azmin also alleged that Khir's family members had an interest in Green Adventure Holiday.

He however was uncertain if the state's special select committee on competence, accountability and transparency (Selcat) would be probing Khir over the matter.

[Additional reporting by Mohd Jimadie Shah Othman]