The Tourism Ministry has invited the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission to check on its RM1.8 million allocation for a promotional campaign and branding through the social media.

Tourism Minister Dr Ng Yen Yen said today that secretary general of the ministry Ong Hong Peng, on her directive, called on the MACC yesterday to invite it to investigate the spending on the campaign.

"Come and check please. There's nothing to hide. We are absolutely transparent.

ng yen yen pc parliament 160611 03 "As far as we are concerned, we  are very upright," she told reporters after the launch in Putrajaya of the coffee table book Pullman Putrajaya Lakeside: The Jewel in the Crown of Putrajaya .

Dr Ng said that she was disappointed and hurt by the insinuations made on the RM1.8 million allocation which the opposition seemed to have convinced people was solely for creating a Facebook.

She reiterated that the allocation was to run, manage and monitor a tourism campaign in the social media, including RM360,000 for advertising and over RM500,000 for prizes for the contests organised.

Dr Ng said that she was committed to diversifying the channels for tourism promotion instead of depending only on the traditional print and electronic media.

"There are 700 million people in the social media, and if you do not believe that the social media can boost marketing you are not with the current crowd," she said.

On the illegal demonstration planned by Bersih (the Coalition for Free and Fair Elections) for July 9, Dr Ng said that it was unproductive and unnecessary and would give the world a wrong impression of Malaysia and affect tourism.

"I hope all just, caring and responsible citizens will stand up for the peace of Malaysia. Every single Malaysian must work together to ensure that our peace and harmony is not disturbed by selfish people," she said.

- Bernama