PARLIAMENT | The cabinet must explain why it had so easily agreed in principle to former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak’s request for a property valued at RM100 million, said opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim (Harapan-Port Dickson).
“How is it possible for a government and a cabinet to so easily approve in principle such a large amount of money for a former prime minister when the country is in the midst of a severe economic downturn?” Anwar said.
He said this while debating the allocations for the Prime Minister’s Department under Budget 2022 in the Dewan Rakyat today.
It had been revealed last week that Najib had requested from the government for a piece of land and house in an affluent neighbourhood in Kuala Lumpur purportedly worth RM100 million.
Former prime ministers are accorded certain privileges by the government, including a right to residence.
It was later confirmed that the cabinet had agreed to Najib’s request in principle. At that point, Najib had announced he had withdrawn his application.
Mohamad Sabu (Harapan-Kota Raja) had interjected during Anwar’s debate today, sarcastically saying that the government should give all former prime ministers a token of appreciation for their “contributions” to the country.
“In view of all the former prime ministers’ contributions, don’t you agree that Tunku Abdul Rahman should be given RM1 billion as the Father of Independence?
“(Second prime minister) Abdul Razak we should give RM500 million, RM300 million for (third prime minister) Hussein Onn, and since Dr Mahathir Mohamad was prime minister for 22 years, we give him RM2 billion, then RM100 million each for Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and Najib.
“It does not matter if the country goes bankrupt; what is important is the remuneration given to these former prime ministers whose service is so important,” Mohamad said.
Anwar said while he understands the point Mohamad was trying to make, he noted that someone like Tunku Abdul Rahman would not have wanted this sort of remuneration for his services to the country. - Mkini
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