Such is the government of People First, Performance Now.  A supposedly prudent government asking the citizenry to tighten their belts and to change their lifestyles in view of difficult times ahead, in light of the government’s dire need to slash our subsidies.

This is not the first of such calls from a government so concerned with the people’s ability to save money.

Yet from the people’s point of view, official trips made in conjunction with a personal agenda is very convenient but smacks of abuse and reveals a lack of accountability in the Malaysian system of governance.

From a corporate standpoint, this would never fly. Not only will it be seen as an abuse by a top executive and frowned upon by internal audit, but the Inland Revenue or our infamous Hasil Dalam Negeri would be breathing down this apparent use of company perks for a personal agenda.

The Hasil Dalam Negeri would see this as using company funds and the company and the executive would be investigated and fined.  The expenses would be reversed and a fine of 20 percent or more would be charged.

If this is the level of integrity demanded in a corporate environment why not then in a government who boasts of integrity and corruption free.

Hence the official trip to the United States in conjunction with the PM’s daughter’s graduation and the official trip to Kazakhstan in conjunction with the PM’s daughters engagement is nothing but an abuse of power.  

There is no end to such wanton spending and may I remind the PM that the money in the government coffer is not his to use freely for personal agendas be it personal or political.