MPs in Taiwan get RM50,000

On September 8, Malaysiakini reported that 49 MPs from the Barisan Nasional Backbencher's Club would be heading to Taiwan for an 'overseas study tour' of the country's agricultural sector. The timing of the retreat was heavily criticized as a ploy to thwart Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's agenda of taking over the federal government by September 16. However, he did concede that his plans may be deferred to a later date until all 49 MPs return from Taipei.

Malaysiakini also revealed that 22 out of the 49 MPs were from East Malaysia.

Read Malaysia's Judgement Day might come later.

However, the controversy took another turn when SAPP President Datuk Yong Teck Lee (image) dropped a bombshell on Barisan Nasional. He claimed that the 49 participating MPs in Taiwan each received RM50,000 as 'pocket money'. SAPP has two MPs in the Parliament - Datuk Eric Majimbun and Datuk Dr Chua Soon Bui; who both had rejected the invitation to go on the trip. [The Malaysian Insider, 11/9/08]

RM50,000 x 49 = RM2,450,000. Where did all the money come from is anyone's guess.

Though Yong's accusations should not be taken as the gospel truth just yet, it would be interesting to see how the Backbencher's Club talk their way out of this in the next couple of days.

The Star had earlier reported that the MPs who were taking part in the trip had to pay for their own expenses. However, The Malaysian Insider reported that the tour group was in fact funded by an unknown Barisan Nasional MP.

Perhaps a full report of their study tour should be disclosed to the public when they return on September 16. Or rather their shopping list...




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