ULAANBAATAR (Mongolia): The government has decided that Cabinet approval would be needed before ministers leave on official overseas trips.
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail said it was part of prudent spending measures taken by the government.
She added that it was also the advice by Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad in view of the financial problems facing the country.
"Such prudent spending would also involve all levels of governance, including at all states under Pakatan Harapan rule.
"We have already started the ball rolling by reducing expenditure in organising Hari Raya celebrations,” she said.
She said this when met by reporters at the Chinggis Khaan International Airport here after concluding her first overseas trip as Malaysia’s deputy prime minister to Mongolia.
She would transit at the Incheon International Airport in South Korea to meet Malaysian students there before flying home the day after.
It was reported that she flew here on a commercial airline and also stayed in a normal room at the Shangri-la Hotel here.
Dr Wan Azizah is heading home today after a three-day trip in Mongolia’s capital to attend the Asian Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction (AMCDRR).
She said Malaysia had gained a lot from its participation in the AMCDRR in the area of disaster risk reduction.
“We are getting ideas, (building) networking with Asian contacts is important. Malaysia can learn a lot and offer a lot,” she said.
AMCDRR is a regional platform aimed at building and strengthening the region’s disaster prevention, preparedness and capacity to fight disaster.
Over 3,000 representatives from the Asia Pacific countries convened in Mongolia’s capital for the four-day conference which ends tomorrow.
“Alhamdulillah (Praise to God). It is a great learning experience for me, my first exposure in representing Malaysia overseas,” she said in wrapping up her visit to Mongolia.
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