SHAH ALAM, 17 Jan: The actions of the Chief Minister of Terengganu, Datuk Seri Ahmad Said, who will lead a 15-day working visit using a yacht to Antarctica, has been slammed by the DAP National Publicity Secretary, Tony Pua.
In a statement, Pua described the visit is a “blatant extravagance” which will not sit well with the people who have been reminded repeatedly to “tighten their belts”, following the rising cost of living.
“The Chief Minister of Terengganu announced a “study trip” to Antarctica. Wow, perhaps he is learning how to make ice. The people are eating kangkung (water spinach) while ministers are spending millions of ringgit to said to Antarctical,” he said on his Facebook page.
Through a statement on The Malaysian Insider portal, Pua said that the CM had “no business” going on the trip in his capacity as the menteri besar, adding that that there was no way he could say that it was to draw foreign investment.
“He isn’t even the minister of science and technology, or the minister of natural resources and environment. He can’t claim that he is going to Antarctica for a trade mission to draw foreign investment or attract tourists, unless you count a waddle of penguins.
“He can’t even give the incredulous excuse used by former Selangor CM Datuk Seri Mohd Khir Toyo who went to Disneyland around the world purportedly to study theme parks while visiting Mickey Mouse and friends,” said the Member of Parliament for Petaling Jaya Utara.
The CM’s office issued a statement yesterday announcing the trip, which was organised by the Science, Technology and Innovation Ministry through the initiative of Yayasan DiRaja Sultan Mizan.
It said the working visit was aimed at paving the way to assisting the government to set up a research station there for joint research with the Instituto Antarctico Chileno.
The visit is initiated to enable Malaysia to contribute to research on climate change which has become increasingly unpredictable.
