The last-minute cancellation of a study tour to Cairo for members of the Selangor Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has irked Subang Jaya state assemblyperson Lee Hwa Beng, who was scheduled to leave for the Egyptian capital with the group on Saturday.

The "educational field trip" was hastily called off yesterday after DAP's Sekinchan assembly representative Ng Suee Lim complained about how lavish the arrangements were and pulled out of the trip.

The study tour was purportedly for PAC members to learn about financial systems in various countries, and included a two-hour visit to the Egyptian Parliament, a three-hour visit to the Malaysian embassy and a meeting with Malaysian students studying in Cairo.

However, the itinerary allocated more time for such diversions as a belly-dance dinner show on a cruise along the River Nile, visits to the pyramids, Sphinx, Suez canal, Moses' hot springs, and shopping.

Lee (photo) expressed anger at Ng for not stating his objections earlier this month at a meeting when the itinerary was discussed and for waiting until "this late hour when we are about to leave for the trip".

He claimed he has not been told about the cancellation and that he considered the eight-day, seven-night trip to go ahead as planned.

"The trip is not cancelled, only the itinerary is a no-go. I have not been informed of any cancellation," he said, when contacted this afternoon.

'Trip inappropriate'

However, Ng said today that he had objected to the itinerary upon receiving the finalised copy last Friday - and that he had disagreed more than two months ago with the need to visit Egypt.

"This was inappropriate as Egypt is not a Commonwealth country. However, my objections were not heeded as mine was a minority voice in the committee," he claimed when contacted.

Ng also said he had brought up the matter with the DAP leadership and had waited for the decision of secretary-general Lim Guan Eng.

"I was concerned... the lavish trip was unnecessary, especially since as we're using public funds," he said, adding that an allowance for winter clothes was available to those on the trip.

Afternoon daily The Malay Mail had reported today that the tour was cancelled after a meeting between a state executive councillor and two PAC members including secretary Bakhtiar Hussin.

Selangor Executive Councillor Tang See Hang was quoted as saying that a refund would be sought and "used for another trip in the future" and that a new itinerary would be drawn up.

Another controversial trip

Flight reservations and bookings in five-star hotels have been made for the 12-member group. It is not known how much of the money will be refunded, as penalties are usually levied for last-minute cancellations.

According to Ng, several spouses were to have accompanied the group on the understanding that they would have to meet their own expenses, amounting to RM7,950 per person.

The Cairo tour came hot in the heels of another controversial trip organised by the Malacca government involving 23 top state officials to United States and Dubai early this month.

In the 15-day trip, Malacca Chief Minister Mohd Ali Rustam, who was part of the delegation, was accompanied by his wife and three children.