50 MPs, paying themselves, go Taiwan to study agriculture during Ramadhan...interesting??

50 Barisan Nasional Member of Parliament of the Barisan Nasional Backbenchers Club (BBC) have left(or are leaving) the country to go to Taiwan for an 8-day study trip "to explore Taiwan’s agricultural and industrial technology."

PETALING JAYA: Fifty members of the Barisan Nasional Backbenchers Club (BBC) will leave for Taiwan on an eight-day study trip starting Monday.

Some 50 MPs out of a total of 78 are expected to take part in the programme, which was organised to explore Taiwan’s agricultural and industrial technology.

BBC chairman Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing said they decided to go to Taiwan, and not China, as they were short of time.

“Initially, we wanted to go to China but as we did not have enough time to process our visas, we decided on Taiwan instead,” he told The Star’s Malay news portal mStar.

He said the initial plan was to have a 12-day trip, but it was shortened due to the Ramadan. - Star, 8/9/2008 -50 Barisan MPs begin eight-day study trip

And guess what, they are apparently paying for the trip themselves -- Bung Mokhtar said that trip was 'self-funded'. How great it is if this was really true - our 'wakil rakyat' taking out their own money from their own pockets to pay for a trip overseas so that they can understand better "...agricultural and industrial technology...".

Deputy BBC chairman Datuk Bung Mokhtar Radin said the delegation would depart from the KL International Airport at 11.15am today.

He said their trip was self-funded, while their itinerary would be handled by the Malaysian Friendship and Trade Centre in Taipei.- Star, 8/9/2008 -50 Barisan MPs begin eight-day study trip

Wonder whether any local trips to study existing agricultural sector, and '"...agricultural and industrial technology...". Have they been similar study trips to the farms and 'ladanngs' in Malaysia? If they were all interested in expanding their 'exposure' and understanding in this area - it would have importatnt for them to have any some exposure to what we already have in Malaysia. They should have also had some briefings and input by our local experts in agriculture and "...agricultural and industrial technology...". Did they have this at all? If not, then this whole study trip is yet another waste of time - whereby the real reason is more likely to be fun --- not study?

Will they also have them 'belly dancers' (oops that was some other study trip...?

Anyway, I do not think that these MPs are paying for themselves? But then Bung Mokhtar's statement implies that it is so - 'self-funded'. Food, Board, Travel, Expenses for a 8-day trip should at the very least come to about RM10,000-00. I do not believe that they will be staying in them back-packers hostels, or eating at the cheap road-side stalls. Mmmm...

Finding halal food... and food in the early morning for our Muslim MPs will also be difficult in Taiwan... I always thought that the month of Ramadan was a time to be with family and local community - but then 8 days away is, maybe OK...

If it was an all-paid trip....or even a partially subsidized trip - maybe then 50 MPs may choose to go to Taiwan (whose climate is not exactly the same as Malaysia) for a trip to study sgriculture...

If was the Minister, Deputy Minister or Parliamentary Secretary of the Agricultural Ministry, it may have made more sense. If it was the Agricultural DG and the staff of that Ministry, it would have made more sense...and here they would have really been able to understand what was being shown to them, and to ask relevant questions to see its relevance to Malaysian conditions, or the possibility of it being aboe to be adapted to the Malaysian situation.

These BBC MPs should have emulated the PM - when he took the LRT ride to understand the state of affairs of public transport in Malaysia. The BBC MPs (and in fact all MPs) should really have study trips locally to understand the plight of the people....take the LRT, the Commuter, take the Public Bus in Temerloh, etc..

Go visit a construction site - and understand the conditions of work - and maybe also get educated about Occupational Health and Safety..

Spend a night at the police lock-ups in Klang Valley - and that will be a very good 'study trip'...

Going to Taiwan for 8 days during the fasting month to study '"...agricultural and industrial technology..." - and thinking Malaysians may find it hard to believe that really was the object of the trip - OR that the MPs are paying for the trip themselves...

Where's that ACA or the the government 'audit' - investigate and tell Malaysians where the money for the trip is really coming from...?

We also want to know HOW MUCH is being spent for the trip? Is it Malaysian peoples' money that could have been utilized better for something else...