Govt officials too travel on private jets

PKR MP takes government to task and shows proof of BN backbenchers known to have traveled using private jets belonging to businessmen.

KUALA LUMPUR: A PKR lawmaker today took the BN government to task, saying that its lawmakers too traveled on private jets or helicopters owned by well-linked businessmen.

Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim was ridiculed for pitching on Pakatan’s shadow budget as pro-people when he had gone on a nationwide pre-election campaign on a private jet.

Machang MP, Saifuddin Nasution, today showed pictorial proof of 23 government officials who had traveled using a private jet belonging to the Weststar Group.

“And who owned Weststar? It was to none other than the late AP king, SM Nasimuddin SM Amin, founder of the Naza Group,” Saifuddin told Parliament during the 2013 Budget debate.

“These are just government officials and they are already traveling using a private jet owned by the Weststar Group which has extensive networks with government leaders.

Nasimuddin’s connections allegedly got him huge control over auto import permits that later contributed to the growth of Naza Group’s business empire.

Shah Alam PAS lawmaker Khalid Samad, in backing his Pakatan Rakyat colleague, said the allegations merited investigations by the authorities.

“There’s nothing wrong if Anwar travels on a private jet as he has no power and doesn’t get contracts but these are government officials we are talking about and they have interests.

“This should be investigated,” he said.

Saifuddin, who is also PKR secretary-general, also chided lawmakers from the ruling coalition who were quick to attack Anwar on the issue.

“Mind you, these are only backbenchers, and they can already travel using private jets.”

The Machang MP then went on to warn BN MPs against personal attacks on his colleagues when many of those from the present government are known to be corrupt.