The Malaysian government spent a total of RM44 million on 236 overseas trips taken by Cabinet ministers last year.
This was revealed by Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Federal Territories), Dr Zaliha Mustafa.
According to NST, In a written parliamentary reply, Dr Zaliha explained that the trips were necessary for Malaysia’s participation in various international organisations such as the United Nations (UN), ASEAN, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), the World Economic Forum (WEF), and the Developing-8 Organisation for Economic Cooperation (D-8).
She stated that these trips are vital for showcasing Malaysia’s commitment to strengthening diplomatic relations and boosting the country’s global standing.
Ministers’ overseas visits also serve as trade and investment promotion missions aimed at attracting foreign direct investment (FDI) and driving the national economy,” she explained.
Most frequent travellers
Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan topped the list with 39 overseas trips, followed by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim with 19 trips.
Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Aziz came in third with 18 trips, while Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing made 15 trips.
Dr Zaliha assured that all trips adhered to the government’s prescribed procedures and followed a prudent spending approach.
Each visit is meticulously planned to maximise added value and apply optimal expenditure rates in line with the government’s cost-saving principles,” she said.
PM’s travel budget
Between November 2022 and February 2025, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim visited 31 countries at a total cost of RM16 million.
Among the destinations were Saudi Arabia, Australia, Bangladesh, Belgium, Brazil, Brunei, India, the UAE, the Philippines, Indonesia, Japan, Germany, Kazakhstan, Cambodia, South Korea, Egypt, Pakistan, Peru, Qatar, Russia, Laos, China, Kyrgyzstan, Thailand, Turkiye, Singapore, Switzerland, Uzbekistan, and the United Kingdom.
Dr Zaliha clarified that travel expenses for officials accompanying the Prime Minister were borne by their respective ministries, while costs for security personnel were covered by the police and armed forces.
She further noted that all expenses for the Prime Minister’s official or working visits were fully funded by the government, with no contributions from private companies.
In cases where commercial flights were chartered, Dr Zaliha highlighted that it was a cost-saving measure given the large delegation sizes and the need to visit multiple countries in succession.
The expenditure for the Prime Minister’s overseas visits always adheres to established financial procedures and adopts a prudent spending approach,” she added in response to a question from Datuk Awang Hashim (PN-Pendang).
The government emphasised that these trips are essential to ensure Malaysia maintains its presence and influence on the international stage while fostering economic and diplomatic ties.
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