Bernama journalist Mohamad Zabidi Osman who participated in the recent controversial overseas 'junket' sponsored by the Malacca government found himself the latest to face DAP's firing line for what has been claimed a 'positive spin' of the trip.

DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng asked the national news agency to explain whether it was ethical for their journalist who went on the trip at public expense to give a "glowing account of the working visit with unspecified benefits to Malacca" in the reports Mohd Zabidi filed after returning.

Mohd Zabidi and his colleague, photographer Zainol Bidin, were the only two journalists invited to join the 23-member delegation during the two-week trip to the United States and Dubai last month. It is learnt that the tour cost the state government RM1 million.

Lim also noted that the reports would give rise to doubts whether they were unbiased and impartial when the journalist concerned was on a trip sponsored by the state government.

"By failing to mention that its journalist was part of the delegation, is there not a conflict of interest when issues of public importance and interest are involved?" he asked Bernama.

Bernama's response

Mohamad Zabidi, when contacted by malaysiakini , confirmed his trip was paid by the Malacca government but also described it as a "normal" invitation for the national news agency.

He said he has filed "two or three" stories on the trip but all these reports did not declare that he was sponsored by the state government on the trip.

He declined to comment on the other questions raised by Lim.

When contacted, Bernama editor-in-chief Azman Ujang said "it is normal for Bernama to send journalists to cover overseas trips".

He declined further comment except to say that "criticisms" from the DAP were "usual" and that he would like to read Lim's statement first before responding.

Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi recently called on state governments to scrap pleasure junkets, saying that politicians can indulge in better things than watching belly-dancing performances.

The premier was referring to the recent aborted Egypt trip - which included a belly-dancing show - by the Selangor Public Accounts Committee. It was cancelled at the eleventh hour, following the withdrawal of a DAP member, who claimed it was a waste of taxpayers' money.