Surf's up mate! Fancy riding the waves in the Australian Gold Coast, visiting theme parks, flea markets and flower shows in the name of a study tour.

If the answer is yes, then pack your stuff and head for Johor. Why?

Because the southern state is host to the latest study tour controversy after news broke of a trip made by more than a dozen officials from there to Australia last year.

According to a purported trip itinerary, the group left for Sydney on Sept 21 last year and was supposed to visit tourist attractions such a the Sydney Opera House, Cockington Green Gardens in Canberra, Brisbane River and Surfer's Paradise in the Gold Coast.

The delegation was also supposed to visit the flower showers - 'Sydney in Bloom' and the 'Floriade' in Canberra - during their eight-day stay.

Apart from this, they were said to have shopped for souvenirs at the world famous Paddy's Market in Sydney as well as the Birkenhead Factory Outlet.

On Sept 26, the itinerary stated that the officials would visit two major theme parks, Movieworld and Dreamworld, both on the Gold Coast.

MB to dive in

As news of the purported itinerary spread, Johor Menteri Besar Abdul Ghani Othman pledged that he would personally dive into the matter to see if there were any elements of abuse in the tour.

"I believe they attended a flower festival," he was reported as saying on Wednesday.

While welcoming Abdul Ghani's commitment to unravel the details of the trip, state DAP vice- president Norman Fernandez hoped that investigations would be carried out immediately and the findings made public.

"The public has a right to know if the alleged trip took place. If proven so, the state government must tell us the details and the outcome of the trip.

"We want to know if public funds were used and how visiting beaches and flower shows benefit the people," he said when contacted.

The opposition party had also sent a letter to the menteri besar demanding an explanation.

Should it be greeted with silence, the issue would be raised during the next state assembly by the state's sole opposition assemblyperson Dr Mohd Ramli Mohd Karim.

The Australian trip is the latest in a string of study tour controversies in the country, which saw officials slated for belly dancing performances in Egypt, golfing in South Africa and fishing in Mauritius.