Why need RM2.7mil for overseas trips, Chong asks Sim
Sarawak opposition leader Chong Chieng Jen (left) says Dr Sim Kui Hian should explain to the public why his ministry needs the extra funds for overseas trips this year.
PETALING JAYA: Sarawak opposition leader Chong Chieng Jen has questioned why the state’s public health, housing and local government minister, Dr Sim Kui Hian, needs to spend more than RM2.7 million for overseas work trips this year.
Chong said he noticed a large increase in the budget for overseas conferences and study visits by Sim’s ministry in the 2024 First Supplementary Estimates of Ordinary Expenditure.
“An additional sum of RM2,781,750 (was) approved to cater to overseas conferences and study visits by the public health, housing and local government ministry,” he said in a statement.
“The initial allocation under the 2024 budget for this programme was only RM161,400, but it is now only five months into 2024 (and) an additional amount of RM2,781,750 is required.”
He said this is a 1,700% increase from the original budget.
Chong, the Padungan assemblyman, said Sim should provide details of the overseas conferences and study visits, including the number attended, locations, and dates.
He also asked the number of individuals funded by the allocated amount and whether Sim’s spouse was among them.
“The public health, housing and local government minister (Sim) should be accountable to the public on the additional supply expenditure of RM2,781,750 for an overseas trip this year for his ministry,” he said.
Yesterday, the Sarawak legislative assembly unanimously passed the supplementary supply bill, allowing an additional expenditure of RM267,928,353.
The bill was tabled by deputy premier Douglas Uggah Embas, who is also the second finance and new economy minister.