PM's 39 overseas trips cost RM13.7m, lower on average than predecessors

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim's 39 overseas trips since taking power in November 2022 until October this year, have cost RM13.7 million.

In return, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Federal Territories) Dr Zaliha Mustafa said that Anwar secured RM353.6 billion in potential investments in 2023 and RM82.6 billion from January to October this year.

In a written parliamentary reply dated Oct 29, Zaliha said the cost of the trips for government officers is borne by the respective ministries, while security personnel are under the police and armed forces.

Anwar's 39 visits covered 22 countries namely Australia, Bangladesh, Brunei, Cambodia, China, Egypt, Germany, Indonesia, Japan, Kazakhstan, Laos, Pakistan, the Philippines, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Thailand, Turkiye, United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan, and Vietnam.

On average, each trip costs RM351,282, which appears to be lower than what is known about spending on official visits by the past four premiers.

No data was published on how much was spent on official visits when Ismail Sabri Yaakob and Muhyiddin Yassin were in power.

The Ismail Sabri administration notably ignored a parliamentary query on how much was spent on the then-prime minister's visit to Japan.

During the second Dr Mahathir Mohamad administration, the government spent RM14.3 million for 22 trips by the premier from May 2018 to July 2019.

This averages out to about RM650,000 per trip.

Najib’s govt spent RM1m on Trump Hotel stay

As for the Najib Abdul Razak administration, about RM1 million (US$247,352) was spent for the Malaysian delegation to the US - which included Najib - to stay at the Trump International Hotel.

The total cost of that US trip and other official visits Najib took in 2017 are unknown.

In 2016, the Prime Minister’s Department refused to disclose the amount spent on Najib's overseas work trips in 2015.

Then minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Azalina Othman Said merely said that Najib’s official visits in 2015 and 2016 had taken into account “prudent spending”.

Between March 2008 and May 2013, RM44.07 million was expended for Najib's overseas trips, according to a parliamentary written reply. However, the number of trips was not disclosed.

PM's Russia visit secures global strategic foothold for M'sia: Analyst

Russia can tap into M'sia's Islamic finance expertise: Anwar

PN accused of diplomatic faux pas over Kiwi PM's visit

M'sia, India sign new MOU on migrant workers recruitment

PM's visit to India can strengthen bilateral relations