The government does not provide a fixed allocation for the prime minister's wife or specific annual allocation for her visits overseas.

Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak said the wife of the prime minister was eligible to receive and make claims for certain expenses like on food, accommodation and warm clothing.

"This is stipulated in the Members of Parliament (Remuneration) Act 1980 (Act 237) on the allowances and privileges for the prime minister.

"The Act states that the prime minister's wife who accompanies him on official trips or goes on her own official trips within the country or overseas is eligible to receive or make claims for food, accommodation, subsistence and warm clothing allowance."

Najib said this in his written reply to Liew Chin Tong (DAP-Bukit Bendera) in the Dewan Rakyat today.

Liew wanted the prime minister to state the number of permament and contract staff, fixed allocation and allocaton for overseas visits and other benefits provided for the prime minister's wife from 2000 to 2010.

Najib said there were no permanent or constract staff provided specially for the prime minister's wife as officers from the Prime's Minister's Office from time to time assisted the prime minister's wife in performing her official duties.

- Bernama