Mystery of government jet explained as Najib meets Thai counterpart on flood matters

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak used the government airplane for his family holiday in Hawaii, but speculation had been rife as to there whereabouts of the Airbus A319 after his vacation was cut short. – The Malaysian Insider file pic, January 3, 2015. 

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak yesterday met Thailand's General Prayuth Chan-o-cha in Bangkok, explaining the presence of the government jet in the Thai capital.

According to a Bernama report, the Malaysian leader was in Bangkok to thank his Thai counterpart for the country’s contributions during the recent floods.

Quoting a posting on Najib’s Facebook account, the report today said both leaders exchanged perspectives on restoration and the Thai flood experience.

The flood situation in Malaysia has generally improved with the number of evacuees recorded at slightly over 61,000 this afternoon compared to over 200,000 at the height of the flooding recently.

The government jet which Najib had used to fly to the United States landed in Bangkok, Thailand, yesterday at 11.11am, after having been in London, New York, and Dubai.

A check on the flight tracking website Flightradar24.com showed that the aircraft, bearing tail number 9M-NAA, had arrived in Dubai from London at 12.16am on Saturday before departing again at 1.53am.

Najib had used the government airplane, an Airbus A319, for his family holiday in Hawaii but cut short his holiday following criticism over his absence when massive floods hit several states in Malaysia.

Many Malaysians had criticised Najib after photographs of him playing golf with US President Barack Obama in Hawaii went viral.

The prime minister, however, did not return to Malaysia on the government jet but instead flew home on a Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) transport plane, fuelling speculation as to the whereabouts of the government jet.

PKR Youth information chief Lee Chean Chung had asked why Najib had not taken the government jet to return to Malaysia, noting that using a RMAF plane incurred additional costs.

“How did the official jet travelled eastwards and ended up in Indianapolis? Who is using the jet?” Lee had asked in a statement.

- TMI