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MAL JUNKS JUNKET IN SWINE WHINE

ALBANY — Maybe there’s something to be said for swine flu.

It provided a very convenient excuse for Senate Majority Leader Malcolm Smith to back out of a controversial junket to Puerto Rico — without admitting that perhaps it’s not such a good idea to leave Albany while the Legislature dithers over the budget and an MTA bailout.

The Queens Democrat said yesterday that he has abandoned the three-night trip to the Caribbean, which was to have begun tonight, out of concern for his wife and daughter — who apparently do not have the disease.

Smith said both of them feel “under the weather” after experiencing flu-like symptoms earlier this week. Neither has tested positive for the swine virus, Smith said, although he added that his wife has been taking the antiviral drug Tamiflu as a precaution. “At this point, it’s probably better for me to stay closer to home than to be on a trip,” Smith said. “God forbid, if their condition gets worse while I’m away, I could never forgive myself.”

The closely divided Senate has proved to be a roadblock to nearly every viable bailout plan for the cash-strapped MTA and Capitol insiders have grown increasingly frustrated with Smith’s inability to broker a compromise.

Nonetheless, four of Smith’s Democratic colleagues — Ruben Diaz Sr., Martin Malavé Dilan, Pedro Espada Jr. and Hiram Monserrate — still plan to take the trip.

A Senate majority spokesman said they will use their own money or campaign cash to cover their travel expenses.

The delegation will be welcomed tonight with a reception hosted by Bayamon Mayor Ramon Luis Rivera Jr. before a series of meetings with the commonwealth’s governor and legislative leaders.

But they still will have plenty of free time to soak up the tropical sun.

The four senators will be feted at another reception hosted by the Diaz clan Saturday night and return to New York on Sunday.

Smith had also announced plans to travel to Israel, India and China. It’s not clear if those trips will be scheduled.

brendan.scott@nypost.com