Thursday, October 3, 2013

RM100mil over 3 years for PM’s private jet

KUALA LUMPUR: The government spends RM28.8 million to rent and RM 5.5 million as maintenance costs on the prime minister’s private jet for a year.

This was revealed by Minister in PM’s Department Shahidan Kassim in reply to Taiping MP Nga Kor Ming’s query during parliament session today.

From 2010, the government has spent RM86.4 million on rental of the private jet and RM16.515 million on maintenance. An additional RM 3.32 million was spent on refurbishing.

Over three years, a total of RM100.47 million was spent on the private jet.

Since 2008, on top of the private jet spending, an additional RM44.02 million was spent on the Prime Minister’s overseas travels.

Following the disclosure, Nga made comparisons with Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong who travels first class on Singapore Airlines and with Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng who travels economy class.

“The PM should follow the examples shown by these statesmen. It would be good if PM Najib flies MAS first class instead of using an exclusive private jet,” said the Taiping MP during a press conference after the session.

PM should be prudent

The DAP leader also revealed that the PM’s Department employed eight ministers and 80,000 staff which costs the government RM4 billion a year for salaries and emolument.

He stressed that since the government has been in deficit for the past 17 years and government debts are climbing to RM516.3 billion, the PM should be wise and prudent in his expenses and financial management.

The DAP leader also urged the Auditor-General to perform an audit on the Prime Minister’s Department to show greater transparency on his management and accountability in managing the ministry.

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