The overseas trip planned by the Backbenchers Club (BBC) is not aimed at blocking Sept 16 crossovers to the opposition camp, but instead is an expedition to "explore opportunities and knowledge in the agricultural sector", said club chairperson Tiong King Sing.

"I don't know why everybody keeps connecting this trip to Sept 16 - this has got nothing to do with it," said Tiong, when contacted by Malaysiakini for clarification.

The Star newspaper has today headlined the BBC's planned trip, which is tentatively slated to take place over a two-week period, coinciding with the deadline set by opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim to form a new government through defections to his Pakatan Rakyat.

tiong king sing "I actually suggested of going on Sept 20, but the majority of the club members are Muslims who will be celebrating Hari Raya beginning October, and they said they would be busy with preparations for the festival," Tiong said.

According to him, the MPs also had a tight schedule towards end of the year, as most already have prior plans to go on vacations with their families.

"The time now is not as hectic as it is the fasting month. So this date works for all parties as it is not so close to the upcoming festivities and they would have enough time to prepare for it," he added.

The destination of the tour, the actual start date and duration have not been finalised yet as the suggestions were only made a couple of days ago.

The trip, which is to take place over an undetermined period between Sept 7 to 19, will be fully paid by the BBC - an organisation representing government MPs.

Anwar has claimed, time and again, that more than 30 MPs from the Barisan were ready to defect to the Pakatan and help it form the new government by Sept 16.

China, Taiwan are possible destinations

According to Tiong, the trip for the government MPs was conceived after the 2009 Budget review last week. The budget had provided for huge allocations to develop the agricultural industry.

"This trip would provide a good experience to improve the agricultural sector," said Tiong.

Tiong, who is Bintulu BN MP, stressed that the tour was not compulsory and it would be fully funded by the BBC.

"Parliament will be meeting again on Oct 13 and if we go now we will be able to debate what we have learned from our planned trip.

"The MPs, whose constituencies are active in agriculture, can also suggest a thing or two to the farmers," he explained.

Tiong added another reason for the trip was because the government had been pushing for progress in the agricultural sector and he hoped that knowledge gained during the trip would be benefit farmers and cultivators.

He said China or Taiwan were likely countries on the itinerary as they had ‘high-tech' agricultural solutions.

"We do not know where we are going yet, but it will be country where advanced equipments are used in agriculture. We have identified several locations but we are still waiting for their response," said Tiong.

He asserted it was better for parliamentarians rather than civil servants to go on such study trips as MPs could transfer the knowledge they have gathered to the farmers more effectively.