Gov't refuses to state cost of PM Najib's US visit

Putrajaya has refused to reveal the cost incurred during Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak's visit to the White House last month.

In a parliamentary written reply, Law Minister Azalina Othman Said said the cost was covered under Section 5 of the Members of Parliament (Remuneration) Act 1980.

Azalina revealed that the cost involved "flights, lodging, transport, food allowances, laundry, telephone costs and others".

"The cost incurred by the prime minister and his delegation were in accordance with the rates that are fixed from time to time," she said in a two-paragraph reply.

The actual breakdown or total costs were not provided.

Section 5 of the 1980 Remuneration Act, which covers "other allowances and privileges", stipulates that MPs "shall also be entitled to such other allowances and privileges at such rates and on such terms and conditions as may be directed by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong and such direction shall be laid before each House of Parliament".

Azalina (photo) was responding to Anthony Loke (DAP-Seremban), who had requested for a detailed breakdown of the costs incurred during Najib's visit and the number of rooms that were booked at the Trump International Hotel.

Singapore PM treated better

The White House has since confirmed that it did not book Najib's hotel stay.

Loke said the refusal to come clean on the figures suggested that Putrajaya had something to hide.

"Did it cost too much to the point that it could not be justified? Was it too lavish that it might make people angry?

"It is a fact that Trump International Hotel is expensive. For example, the Franklin Suite alone costs US$5,000 (RM21,188) a night and that is not even their most expensive room," Loke said in a statement today.

He said the rates for the more lavish "presidential suite" and "Trump townhouse" were not available online.

Loke also questioned why Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong was placed at the Blair House – which is meant for leaders on official visits to the US – while Najib was not.

"Why was the Malaysian PM given a lesser treatment than the Singaporean PM by the US government?

"Is this not related to the MO1 and kleptocracy issue which is being investigated by the US Department of Justice?" Loke asked.

-Mkini