PETALING JAYA: DAP secretary general Lim Guan Eng has criticised the Tourism Ministry's RM18mil move to start Internet TV to attract tourists as being too costly and a waste of public funds.

"All you need is a good video camera. Malaysiakini (news portal) can do their Web TV for RM20,000, why do you need RM18mil?" he said.

Lim said he was also made to understand that the cost took into account 100 documentaries that would be produced about the country.

"Why do you need to produce so many? Do you think the tourists want to see so many?" he said.

On Tuesday, Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said said an initial RM6mil would be spent mostly on content and the ministry had initially requested for RM36mil for the project.

Lim criticised Malaysia's drop in ranking on the Transparency Inter-national Malaysia's Corruption Perceptions Index from 43 (out of 179 countries) in 2007 to 47 (180 countries) in 2008.

"It has worsened and is a slap in the face for anti-corruption efforts by the Prime Minister. He must admit that corruption is a serious problem in this country and not be in denial," he said after introducing two new members of the DAP think tank, Teh Chi-Chang and Leong Joo Ti.

Teh was appointed Lim's economic adviser, replacing PJ Utara MP Tony Pua, while Leong was appointed to assist Lim in strategy and implementation of policies.

Teh, 37, had previously worked in a string of corporate finance companies and brings with him 15 years of experience in investment appraisal, management and corporate finance.

Pua has been promoted as the party's national publicity secretary.