Najib’s US and Britain trips covered under Act

DATUK Seri Najib Tun Razak’s expenses for his official visits to the United States and Britain last month were in accordance with the allowances and privileges stated in the Members of Parliament (Remuneration) Act 1980.

All expenses incurred by the Prime Minister and his entourage were according to the current rates and cover the cost of flights, accom- modation, transport, meals, laundry, mobile charges and others, said the Prime Minister’s Department in a written reply to Lim Lip Eng (DAPSegambut).

Lim had asked the cost and the entourage size of Najib’s visit to US President Donald Trump at the White House and British Prime Minister Theresa May in September.

Lim also questioned how much foreign investment had been made in Malaysia as a result of the visit.

The Prime Minister’s Department said Najib’s visit was a working visit while the premier’s brief visit in London was a special meeting with May.

As such, it said both visits should not be confused with trade and investment missions, which have specific objectives to develop trade, investment and economic cooperation with the nations visited.

Even so, trade and investment was on the agenda during the Prime Minister’s visit to the United States because it is important for Malaysia to strengthen bilateral trade with that country, and the United States is also Malaysia’s third largest trade partner with RM136bil in trade value last year.