Dr M: White House footed hotel bill when I visited Reagan

INTERVIEW | When news broke that Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak was staying at the Trump International Hotel during his Washington DC trip, questions were raised as to whether this was appropriate.

Some asked if Najib was attempting to curry favour with the hotel's namesake, United States President Donald Trump, while others claimed it was unconstitutional for the latter's for-profit company to receive funds from foreign governments.

Quizzed on this, White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said the Trump administration did not book Najib's hotel accommodation.

In an interview with Malaysiakini today, former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad said he was accorded better treatment by the White House when he visited then-president Ronald Reagan in 1984.

"I didn't stay at Blair House (the White House guest house), it was under repair so I stayed at a hotel, one of the best hotels there," he added.

Asked if the US government footed the bill, Mahathir replied: "Dia orang belanja la." (They paid la).

Mahathir said he was first invited to the White House when he became prime minister in 1981. He only agreed to it three years later.

"Even then it was on the condition that it would be an official visit.

"I had a four-eyed discussion (with Reagan) at the (Oval Office) fireplace, sat there with Reagen. After that I had lunch with Reagan," he recalled.

Footage from the Ronald Reagen Library showed Mahathir and the late US president sitting by the Oval Office fireplace for a photo opportunity. Then vice-president George H Bush Sr was also present.

After the working luncheon, the two then issued a joint statement at the White House East Room.

Like Najib, Mahathir did not take questions from the press during his White House visit.

However, the practice of a joint press conference involving the US president and foreign leaders only began during the presidency of George W Bush Jr.

The lack of media access during Najib's visit was something that did not escape Mahathir's attention.

"He was not given the same treatment as others. There was no press conference, no photo-op where two people sit down for photos, none of that.

"So he paid RM100 billion, spent so much, but what did he get?" Mahathir asked. The RM100 billion is in reference to the investments Najib pledged to the US.

Unlike Trump's meetings with other heads of governments, there was no handshake photo-op with Najib before news agencies in the Oval Office.

The only images of Najib in the US president's office appears to be from the official White House media.

Likewise, the duo also opted not to have a customary joint press conference at either the East Room or the Rose Garden.

Instead, a joint press statement was issued after their meeting in the Cabinet Room, and journalists were not allowed to ask questions.

It is believed that the lack of media access was to prevent uncomfortable questions about the US Department of Justice's investigations into the 1MDB scandal.

The 1984 visit was not Mahathir's only time at the White House. He also visited in 2002 to meet Bush Jr.

This visit was however mired in controversy with Mahathir accused of paying for the meeting.

The Washington Post reported that Mahathir allegedly hired Washington lobbyists through the US-based Heritage Foundation to persuade the White House to agree to the meeting.

The report claimed that the expenditure for the lobby activities amounted to about RM5.3million.

Meanwhile, the LA Times claimed the Mahathir government paid Republican lobbyist US$1.2 million to set up the meeting. - Mkini