DAP questions Tourism Ministry’s ‘lavish’ spending

The DAP’s Anthony Loke highlighted, among other PATA 2012 expenditure, that the conference’s four turtle mascots cost a total of RM48,000.


Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen must explain why her ministry blew a cool RM3.4 million on hosting an international conference, the DAP’s Anthony Loke said today.

He questioned if she had “misled” the Cabinet over the amount required to host the three-day Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) 2012 conference organised by Tourism Malaysia (TM), an agency under Ng’s ministry.

1Malaysia Chopper

The Prime Minister unveiled the 1Malaysia Chopper while launching the “5-Mountain Motorcycle Tour” tour package at PWTC on Friday.

Section of old Istana to be converted into MICE centre

A section of the old Istana Negara (pix) here will be converted into a meeting, incentive, convention and exhibition (Mice) centre, said Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen.

She said the proposal was approved at today's Cabinet meeting.

A special committee from the Malaysian convention and exhibition bureau would be appointed to evaluate and study the proposal, she added.

Tourism Minister clarifies overspent report

The Tourism Ministry has denied the Auditor-General’s Report 2010 that it overspent on advertisements to a tune of RM270mil.

Tourism Ministry: RM1.8m spent on Facebook pages

Rasah MP Anthony Loke wants Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Ng Yen Yen to explain the “exorbitant” costs involved in developing the Facebook pages


A whopping RM1,758,432 was spent on developing six Facebook pages to promote Malaysian tourism, the Tourism Ministry said today.

Deputy Tourism Minister James Dawos Mamit said this today in reply to a question from Anthony Loke (Rasah-DAP).

Each Facebook page cost RM293,072 — Cuti-Cuti 1 Malaysia, Citrawarna 1Malaysia, Karnival Jualan Mega 1 Malaysia, Festival Pelancongan Seni Kontemporari 1 Malaysia, Kempen 1 Malaysia Bersih and Fabulous Food 1 Malaysia.

The Citrawarna 1 Malaysia page has so far attracted 20,292 Facebook fans since it was launched on May 21.

Chua: Tourism Ministry should show itemised bill

MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek says the Tourism Ministry should present an itemised bill on in the RM1.8mil budget for its social media advertising campaign.

Yen Yen playing race card, says ad agency boss

Integrated Strategic Communications (ISC) chief executive officer Austen Zecha lashed out today at Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen for stirring up local sentiment against him by labelling him a “Dutch Trader”.

Zecha, who is being sued by the tourism minister for claiming that she solicited a bribe, said that Dr Ng has referred to him as being Dutch or an American residing in Indonesia but “nothing about my having been a permanent resident in Malaysia since 1987.”

“That reference to me as the ‘Dutchman’ is, according to my friends, supporters and relatives here and abroad, either derogatory, racist or a pathetic attempt to galvanise local or her constituents’ sentiment against me,” said the advertising agency’s founder..

In a press statement today, Zecha said that Dr Ng (picture) was “trying to isolate me from my profession, company and even partners.”

Yen Yen: We can make big strides in shoe industry

Black-tie event: (From left) Fashion designer Nicolas Georgiou, Yeoh, Dr Ng and Choo at The Glass Slipper Gala in Kuala Lumpur last night.


Malaysia has the potential to flourish in the shoe-making industry by inculcating skills in the younger generation, Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen said.

She said Malaysian parents and their children must be aware that there was a bright future in the industry.

“It is still common for parents to want their children to be doctors, engineers and accountants.

“However, there is a need for a change of mindset so that they will understand there is a future for their children in making and crafting shoes,” she told reporters after opening the Malaysia International Shoe Festival 2011 here yesterday.

Dr Ng said Malaysia's strength in the industry would be its diverse cultures that could be reflected in shoe designing.

“For example, we have the baba and nyonya culture and we also have the Indian and Middle Eastern influence,” she said.

She said Malaysia had its own icon shoe designer Datuk Jimmy Choo who could offer advice and share his experience and vision with the young generation.

“Young people need to have an idol who they can look up to.

“And Choo is the one who can inspire them,” she said.

Pakatan MPs demand Yen Yen’s head over graft claims

Ng’s ministry was accused of seeking a 50 per cent “rebate” from the advertising agency.


Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen should be sacked as tourism minister following fresh allegations by an advertising agency that it was asked for bribes in exchange for a promotion contract, Pakatan Rakyat (PR) lawmakers said today.

Integrated Strategic Communications’ (ISC), the advertising agency behind the award-winning “Malaysia, Truly Asia” tourism campaign said yesterday that it withdrew a bid to renew its contract with the Tourism Ministry after allegedly being asked for bribes in exchange for the deal.

Penang Hill trains expected to resume Mid-April

Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen and Penang Yang di-Pertua Negri Tun Abdul Rahman Abbas handed over the project to the Penang Hill Corporation (PHC) on Saturday.

RM460 million spent by Tourism Ministry last year

Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen says Malaysia received a 115-fold return from its RM460mil tourism expenditure last year.

2011 Budget: Ministers and MPs' reaction

WOMEN, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil:

I think I am the happiest minister today. After being in the Cabinet for nine years, this budget has been the best one so far for the ministry. It opens up many opportunities for women to work, even if they are at home.


Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein:

I am glad that the prime minister has given us the allocation that we have asked for, this will be channelled to tackle problems such as reducing the crime rate and improving ties between the various agencies under the ministry. It is also a very rakyat-friendly budget which is focusing into transforming the nation into a developed nation.


PKR secretary-general and Machang MP Saifuddin Nasution:

I feel that the budget still has a lot of flaws and has not addressed issues that concern the rakyat. It is still rhetoric and the focus is more on mega projects.


Health Minister Datuk LiowTiong Lai:

Our allocation has increased form last year, which shows the government's commitment to healthcare and improving hospital facilities for the rakyat. There is also an increase of training funds to train more doctors. I would like to thank the PM on the implementation of more mobile clinics and another 25 1Malaysia clinics.




Opposition Leader and Permatang Pauh MP Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim:

It's definitely an election budget, there is still no emphasis to assure the public of a new more transparent model. It still does not address issues such like the failure to attract foreign investments and it is still riddled with mega projects that will benefit cronies, In my view it is a budget that focuses too much on the goodies without being substantial.




Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen:

It is a very holistic budget and am glad that there are many benefits provided for women such as the extended maternity leave. I am also very supportive of the minimum wage. Hopefully, with the abolishing of import duties for the luxury (shopping) items, we will be very competitive in terms of tourism and I hope this will be extended until the year 2020 for tourists are estimated to spend a total of RM50 billion for shopping.




PAS deputy president and Bachok MP Nasharuddin Mat Isa:

The budget has too many incentives that are not needed by the rakyat, such as the abolishing of import duties for lingerie and luxury items when more issues on costs that burden the rakyat such as the high cost for toll was not really dealt with. It sounds good that the toll won't be increased for five years but after this five years what will happen?




Deputy Education Minister Datuk Wee Ka Siong:

It is good that now school children will be supplied with vitamins and supplements which will complement the 1Malaysia milk programme. It shows that the government cares and is putting emphasis on the children's health.

Klang MP Charles Santiago:

If you look at the introduction of the Budget, it’s RM212.13 billion ... out of that 76% goes for operating budget and 21% for development.

How are you going to reach your 2020 high income economy when your development expenditure is so little?

But the good part of the budget is the commission of the wage consultative body, where multi-stakeholders play a part.

And why do we need a hundred-storey building in KL?