What was done to private jet, PKR asks Najib

PKR lawmaker Rafizi Ramli says the private jet used by the prime minister has meeting facilities and need not be refurbished. – Pic courtesy of Rafizi Ramli, May 18, 2015.

PKR lawmaker Rafizi Ramli today questioned what exactly were the refurbishments to the private jet used by the prime minister, saying he could not accept the explanation that it was to facilitate work meetings on board.

The Pandan MP said the jet was previously installed with such meeting facilities.

"I have shown pictures of the jet before and clearly there were meeting facilities. Maybe the prime minister can explain exactly what he added on.

"Did he add on a big screen? He can also show pictures before and after the upgrade, that would be helpful," Rafizi told reporters at the Parliament lobby today.

PKR parliamentary whip Johari Abdul said that it was puzzling why Barisan Nasional MPs were so defensive when issue of the private jet came up.

He said this in reference to the question-and-answer time earlier where Taping MP Nga Kor Ming had used the term “private jet”.

This prompted a "correction" from Deputy Finance Minister Chua Tee Yong, who told Nga that it was a government jet.

"There are three types of jets, military jet, commercial jet and private jet, so if it is not the other two, it means private jet, but that does not mean it is bought for Datuk Seri Najib, it means that it's for private use, it's not a commercial jet," Johari said.

Rafizi added that there were two categories – commercial airliners which were subjected to schedule, while those not subjected to schedule were referred to as private jets.

Najib had broken his silence yesterday in defending the purchase of the new private jet, saying it was not a luxury.

He said in his blog that the aircraft’s interior had been configured to cater for meetings and discussions to be held on board and that work could continue even during flights.

"Therefore, the question does not arise as to whether or not a country should have an official jet.

"We must not be taken in by the opposition propaganda that the government was wasting money on a new jet," the prime minister said.

Najib had also said the opposition had failed to explain that the jet was purchased to replace a 16-year-old aircraft that was becoming a safety hazard.

"Moreover, it is also the official aircraft used by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, providing all the more reason for us not to compromise on safety and security."

At the same time, he said the cost of maintaining an old aircraft, a Boeing business jet, was high, thus it needed to be disposed of.

"The money the government makes from its sale will clearly reduce the cost paid for the new aircraft.”

In March, PKR had slammed the government for adding a seventh jet to its fleet.

The new jet, an Airbus ACJ320, added PKR, was secured through a direct negotiation hire-purchase deal with Jet Premier One, the same company handling the current Airbus ACJ319 jet used by the prime minister.

The new jet was secured for RM28.8 million yearly in hire purchase and RM5.5 million in yearly maintenance, excluding fuel cost.

-TMI