Rural and Regional Development Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob has cancelled a forthcoming official trip to Egypt in view of the review of Budget 2016 due to the falling price of world crude oil.

He said he had asked an official of the Malaysian embassy to represent him at the graduation of Malaysian students at an institution there.

“Usually there are many trips abroad but this year we will get our officials overseas to represent us,” he said when disclosing one of the measures the ministry was taking to optimise expenditure.

Besides cutting down on trips abroad, the ministry would also hold meetings and seminars in halls or hotels owned by the ministry, he told reporters after attending the monthly assembly of the ministry in Putrajaya today.

Ismail Sabri said the review of Budget 2016 would not affect the planned rural development.

Prime Minister and Finance Minister Najib Abdul Razak is scheduled to present the reviewed Budget on Jan 28.

- Bernama