Malaysian Government Covers RM486,000 for Tun Mahathir’s Japan Trip, Confirms PM Anwar

MELAKA, June 12— The Malaysian government has spent nearly half a million ringgit to fund former Prime Minister Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad’s recent trip to Japan for the annual Nikkei Future of Asia conference, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim revealed on Thursday.

Anwar said the government allocated approximately RM486,000 for the visit after receiving a formal application from Dr. Mahathir, who attended and delivered a speech at the prestigious conference held in Tokyo on May 30.

“There are existing provisions allowing former prime ministers to apply for government support for official travel,” said Anwar during a press conference. “If the sitting prime minister approves the request, the government will bear the cost.”

He clarified that despite Dr. Mahathir’s frequent criticism of the current administration, he chose to approve the application in good faith.

“I just don’t want anyone to misunderstand. Even though he criticizes the government daily, we still approved his travel application. “I would rather not take a negative attitude,” he said.

Anwar noted that the delegation accompanying Dr. Mahathir to Japan included around seven individuals.

In a separate development, Anwar confirmed that he had received resignation letters from two Cabinet ministers following recent internal party election losses. However, he has only approved their applications for temporary leave for now.

“I asked them to take time to reflect. Personally, I hope they reconsider and rejoin the Cabinet,” he said.

The ministers in question are Economy Minister Rafizi Ramli and Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad.

Both are reported to have offered their resignations after suffering defeats in the recent PKR party elections.

Anwar made these comments after attending a PKR organizational empowerment seminar and holding a closed-door meeting with party leaders in Melaka.

Among those present were PKR vice presidents Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari and Datuk Seri R. Ramanan, party secretary-general Senator Fuziah Salleh, Wanita chief Fadhlina Sidek, Youth chief Muhammad Kamil Abdul Munim, and Hang Tuah Jaya division chief Datuk Seri Shamsul Iskandar Mohd Akin.

During the seminar, Anwar urged party members to move past recent internal disputes and focus on the party’s long-term goals.

“Imagine this—I can work with UMNO, even hug it out. Surely, we can overcome our internal differences too,” he said.