MALAYSIA: The Kedah government will probe allegations on a blog that a state exco member had submitted claims amounting to RM148,000 over the last 13 months, reports Berita Harian.

The Malay daily quoted Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Azizan Abdul Razak as saying that he would initiate a probe into the allegations on kedahlanieblogspot.com which were posted by a writer claiming to be a "private investigator".

The writer alleged that the exco member had made claims for visits totalling 219 days, including 36 trips to Langkawi, each time staying between three and four days on the island.

He also said the exco member received a salary and fixed allowance of some RM16,500 (SGD 6,830.48) a month but his average monthly income shot up to RM28,000 due to the claims.

His highest claim was for RM34,601 and his lowest RM17,000. The claims submitted by the exco member for accommodation topped the bill at RM25,000.