Thesun 2009-04-02 Page01 Khirs Rm1

œ Member of Audit Bureau of Circulations (Malaysia)

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No. 4729 PP 2644/12/2009 (023092)

Thursday April 2, 2009

TELLING IT AS IT IS

» RM80m aid package for Tamil schools pg2

by Maria J. Dass [email protected]

HAH ALAM: Former Selangor mentri besar Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Khir Toyo and his entourage spent RM1.7 million of public funds to visit two Disneyland theme parks in the United States and France, but the working trips did not include meetings with Disneyland officials and no reports were submitted after that. These trips, which took place in 2007 and 2004, were in addition to two other trips to Disneyland parks in Hongkong in March 2006 for which the entourage spent RM30,000 and Tokyo, in preparation for the setting up of a 8ha theme park in Bagan Lalang. State investment arm Permodalan Negeri Selangor Bhd (PNSB) paid for the trips, its chief executive officer Datin Khairiyah Abu Hassan told the Selangor Select Committee on Competency, Accountability and Transparency (Selcat) which yesterday wrapped up its inquiry into the expenses of the now-defunct elected Selangor representatives’ wives’ welfare and charity organisation (Balkis) and the excesses of statelinked companies. The inquiry started on March 23. The findings will be tabled in the state assembly in July. Grilled by committee members, Khairiyah testified that the entourage merely visited the theme parks as members of the public and that the visits were more as an exposure to the management and concept of running a theme park. Asked who decided on the trips, she said the decision was made at

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Najib to be sworn in tomorrow PUTRAJAYA: The Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin has given his consent for Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak to be sworn in as prime minister at 10am tomorrow, Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Mohd Sidek Hassan said. In a statement issued last night, he said Tuanku Mizan had also consented to grant an audience to Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and Najib at 10am today for Abdullah to relinquish the post and seek consent to appoint Najib as the new prime minister. Tuanku Mizan gave his consent at an audience with Abdullah before the cabinet meeting yesterday morning. The King had given his consent for Najib to be presented his letter of appointment as prime minister and to take his oath of office, loyalty and confidentiality at Istana Negara at 10am tomorrow, the statement said. – Bernama

» Accountancy Career & Education Fair 2009 pg15-20

pg21

Khir’s RM1.7m Disney trips

KAMARIDUAN MOHD NOR/THESUN

ShiNing once more

www.sun2surf.com

Khairiyah ... no reports were submitted after the Disney trips.

BERNAMAPIX

PNSB’s management meeting and by its chairman and former MB Mohd Khir. Elaborating on the trip to Disneyland in Paris between Dec 17 and 24, 2004, Khairiyah said PNSB spent almost RM1 million as the visit included a working trip to Morocco to study Moorish and Islamic architecture and a four-day transit stop in Dubai (costing more than RM90,000) Other disclosures: Mohd Khir was accompanied on the Paris and Orlando, US, trips by his wife Datin Seri Zahrah Kechik (Balkis chief), their three children and maid. More than RM366,000 was spent on a reconnaissance trip in preparation for the working visit to Morocco while RM416,000 was spent for the official delegation. The RM646,841 trip to the United States between Dec 23, 2007 and Jan 1, 2008 included technical visits to Disneyland in Orlando and Miami beach after which the entourage flew to Honolulu where they went on a city tour, visited Pearl Harbour and Chinatown, watched a cultural show and went on a dinner cruise. The group also visited the Kennedy space centre to see how this concept could be included in the Bagan Lalang theme park. PNSB paid RM110,000 for a suite room for Mohd Khir, his wife and three children at the Hilton Waikiki Hotel and the Walt Disney Dolphin Hotel prior to that. Selcat chairman Teng Chang Khim remarked: “This is equivalent to RM10,000 a night throughout the seven-day visit.” On the Dubai transit during the Paris trip, Teng asked why a transit took four days. He also questioned the need for a reconnaissance team to go ahead of the official delegation when this could have been done by the Malaysian embassy in France. Khairiyah also told Selcat that no report was submitted on the technical trips to Disneyland. Although there were invoices to show that the cost of accommodation and airfare for the children of Mohd Khir were absorbed by PNSB, Khairiyah said this was paid back to PNSB.

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Words of wisdom ... Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak and other cabinet ministers applaud after Abdullah has given his advice at the cabinet meeting yesterday.

Abdullah imparts invaluable advice to cabinet PUTRAJAYA: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi imparted invaluable advice for Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak and the cabinet to act upon when he chaired his last cabinet meeting yesterday, according to ministers met after the meeting. The ministers said Najib, as the deputy prime minister, took the opportunity to accord recognition of the highest order on Abdullah for his huge contribution to the country. They also recorded their appreciation to Abdullah for having given them the space and opportunity to have worked with him in the government. Najib took over as Umno president on Saturday at the party’s general assembly after Abdullah did not seek nomination to retain the post, thus paving the way for the former to take over as prime minister. By convention, the Umno president assumes the premiership of the country as the leader of the largest party in the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition.

Abdullah is scheduled to have an audience with the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin, today to relinquish the post of prime minister after having helmed the country for more than five years. International Trade and Industry Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said yesterday’s cabinet meeting proceeded in an atmosphere of calm, with the ministers touched by the advice given by Abdullah. He said Abdullah had emphasised matters which the Cabinet should act upon, especially the collective responsibility of the ministers. Muhyiddin said Abdullah had given useful advice which the cabinet could use as a guide. “The prime minister said he was prepared to give his views if necessary,” he said. He said the cabinet prayed for the good health of Abdullah and his wife, Datin Seri Jeanne Abdullah, while recording the contributions of the prime minister to the government as a major contribution to the country.

Education Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein said Abdullah was calm and resolute, and this touched the ministers. “In fact, his advice to the cabinet reflected that of a leader who wishes the best for the people and the future of the country,” he said. “That is the man that I know, that I respect. That is the man who has always put the (interest of the) public and the country above himself”. Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said Abdullah had called for the continuity of all decisions adopted at past cabinet meetings. Information Minister Datuk Ahmad Shabery Cheek saidAbdullah gave the assurance that he would continue to assist and support the government and party. Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Minister Datuk Mustapa Mohamed said Abdullah recorded his appreciation for all cabinet ministers for the support and cooperation extended to him. – Bernama

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