PUTRAJAYA: Respective ministers will have to sign off on any overseas trips in their ministries to improve management and governance and to save costs.
Unity government spokesman Fahmi Fadzil said this was a directive from Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim as part of efforts to reduce the country's debt.
Previously, all overseas trips only needed approval from the respective secretary-general.
"The prime minister wishes to improve management and governance. Regarding overseas trips, there needs to be a rationalisation of the number of people going, whether it could be reduced, and where cost savings can be made. All of this should be taken into consideration.
"We are working to reduce the country's debt. Therefore, the prime minister wants to scrutinise all aspects, including overseas trips," he told reporters after the Communications Ministry's monthly assembly here today.
He added that the government would review all aspects of service delivery and project mechanisms to ensure there were no delays or stalled projects in order to reduce costs.
"What is clear is that the prime minister wants to ensure every ringgit and sen of the rakyat is spent wisely," he said.