PETALING JAYA: The study trip of Barisan Nasional backbenchers will end Saturday. However, it is still not sure how many will return to Malaysia on the same day.

BN Backbenchers Club chairman Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing said the MPs would have their free time after the study trip officially ends, adding that he did not ask how many of them would stay or come back to Malaysia.

"I'll fly to China for business after the trip."

He told Sin Chew Daily, of a total of 52 people taking part in the trip, 10 had come back earlier while the other two would be back on Saturday.

"Some of them have to attend events in their constituencies and must therefore be back earlier."

In other words, there are 40 MPs currently still in Taiwan.

Tiong said, "Pakatan Rakyat has blamed us for disrupting their 16 September plan by sending away the MPs. But some of them have already come back to Malaysia."

"If the MPs are serious about defecting to Pakatan, nothing can stop them wherever they are."

Don't Blame The MPs

Tiong pointed out that Pakatan Rakyat should not put the blame on BN backbenchers for their failure in toppling the government.

He said, If Pakatan said it has now deferred the 16 September plan, then they should answer to all the promises they had made earlier.

"We go on our study trip. Why should they blame us for their failure to form the new government? Don't push all the responsibilities to us. As for whether the 16 September plan to take over the government is a lie, we will leave that to the rakyat to evaluate."

Pakatan said in a statement on Friday that the plan to take over the government might have to be postponed owing to a number of factors, including the sending away of 52 BN backbenchers for a trip to Taiwan.

Tiong said, PKR leaders said they wanted to travel to Taiwan to meet the MPs, and this only showed that they had no confidence in themselves.

"If Pakatan Rakyat is confident of forming the federal government, why should they be so worried? Barisan MPs are not three-year-old kids. I have faith in them. They have their principles!"

He emphasised that the 52 MPs were not keen to hop over to Pakatan, and would remain loyal to BN. (Translated by DOMINIC LOH/Sin Chew Daily)