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Wastage of Public Funds: Overseas trips, often labeled as "study trips" or official visits, cost hundred of millions of ringgit per year. These funds could be better allocated to crucial national needs like education, healthcare, or debt repayment. In a time when Malaysia faces significant national debt, cutting non-essential expenditures like these trips would demonstrate fiscal responsibility.

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Lack of Tangible Outcomes: There is widespread criticism that these trips result in little to no benefit for the country. The outcomes are rarely transparent, and any potential learnings from these trips are not implemented in policy changes or innovations. This calls into question the necessity of such frequent overseas engagements.

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Perceived Corruption: Many see these trips as thinly veiled opportunities for officials to enjoy luxury holidays at the taxpayer’s expense. The practice of taking large delegations, sometimes including family members, raises suspicions of corruption and misuse of public resources. This practice also includes the excessive number of officials accompanying athletes to international events like the Olympics, which is viewed as unnecessary and wasteful.

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GE16 on the way-Public Perception and Trust: In times of economic hardship, such expenditures further erode public trust in government officials. The general population sees these trips as extravagant and unnecessary when the nation is struggling with its financial health. By eliminating these trips, the government would signal its commitment to fiscal discipline and accountability.

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More Affordable Alternative Solutions Until Country Debt is Totally Paid Off: With advances in technology, study tours and international collaborations can be carried out virtually, at a fraction of the cost. Webinars, virtual meetings, and online conferences provide platforms for learning and international cooperation without the need for expensive travel.

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PART 2

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Zero Misallocation of Scarce Resources (getting more and more scarce inevitably): Borrowing money, particularly from science-driven wealthy countries, to fund non-productive sectors like religious teaching in public schools diverts crucial resources away from essential economic areas. When a country is already reliant on loans, every borrowed dollar should be allocated towards sectors that stimulate economic growth, such as science, technology, infrastructure, and education aimed at future workforce needs. Investing in religious teaching, which does not directly contribute to job creation, innovation, or productivity, is an inefficient use of borrowed money. The funds used for religious teaching could otherwise be spent on enhancing STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) education, which directly contributes to innovation, research, and industrial growth. For example, countries that prioritize STEM education see far greater returns in terms of job creation, technological development, and overall competitiveness on the global stage. Diverting resources away from these areas hampers national progress in innovation-driven fields.

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PART 3

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Accountability and Transparency:

A.Establish zero-cost public accountability measures to track government spending.

B.Enforce open data policies for government budgets, ensuring transparency.