A key member of Selangor's Public Accounts Committee (PAC) conceded that the planned activities for the scrapped trip to Egypt were "inappropriate and unsuitable" despite asserting otherwise earlier.

"On hindsight, I agree that the itinerary was inappropriate and unsuitable," said Subang Jaya state assemblyperson Lee Hwa Beng when contacted today.

However, he did not specify the activities in the controversial 'study tour' which he considered as improper.

Earlier, the MCA politician had defended the trip as '100 percent educational' despite virulent public criticism after it was revealed that the itinerary, among others, included a Nile river cruise with a belly-dance performance.

Detractors dismissed it as nothing more than a lavish holiday at the public's expense. Following the media blitz and the withdrawal of an opposition PAC member, the trip was called off last Saturday.

'Don't run away'

Meanwhile, Lee also offered to pay his share of the penalties that are likely to be levied for the last-minute cancellation by the travel agency.

However, he stressed this is conditional upon the PAC's sole opposition party member, DAP Sekinchan assemblyperson Ng Suee Lim paying his end of the charges.

"I don't mind paying if Ng also pays. If he pays, I'll pay," he said.

Last week, the DAP politician blew the whistle on the trip when he announced his withdrawal to the media. Ng said he considered the trip a waste of taxpayers' money.

"In hindsight, all of us shouldn't have (agreed to go), but Ng cannot disclaim his responsibility (for the initial approval of the trip).

"He also made the decision to go, he cannot run away from that. He has to share the responsibility of making the decision equally," argued Lee.

He said Ng was party to three occasions, including two meetings held in September last year and Jan 7 this year, to approving the trip and did not voice his disagreement to it then.

"He (Ng) cannot deny the facts. Ng, even I, was (party to the decision) on three occasions - at the September meeting, at the Jan 7 meeting, and when the 'offer letter' was sent to us. He cannot run away from his own responsibility.

"In hindsight, it is easy to say that the itinerary was inappropriate. But if you didn't agree with the itinerary, why didn't you object? Why didn't you object to the belly-dancing? You cannot say you agree to the trip, then on coming out of the meeting say you disagree. This was very unbecoming of a PAC member," he added.

Earlier, Ng insisted that he had stated his opposition to the trip as far back as two months ago, but could not affect its cancellation because his "was a minority voice in the committee."

Lee said the offer to pay his share was in response to a suggestion by Transparency International president Param Cumarswamy, who said the ' penalty bill ' should be sent to the government official responsible for approving the trip.

Param, noting that the fault-finding is being wrongly targeted, said this should not be directed at persons allegedly responsible for its cancellation.

After announcing the cancellation of the trip last Saturday, Lee and fellow PAC member Ahmad Bahri Abdul Rahman insisted that all responsibility and financial liabilities for the cancelled trip be footed by Ng.

However, the DAP leader said he would take the matter to court if told to pay the sum.