GROOM’S FAMILY PAID FOR NAJIB DAUGHTER’S KLCC WEDDING, PM’S AIDE SAYS

(Malay Mail Online) – The lavish wedding ceremony for Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s daughter Nooryana Najwa at a city venue here was paid for entirely by the family of the groom, Kazakh Daniyar Kessibayev, an aide has confirmed.

Najib’s special officer Rizal Mansor told Malaysiakini that not a single sen of government money was spent for the glitzy event at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Center (KLCC), which has been criticised for its alleged extravagance.

The news portal reported Rizal saying that the March 28 function, a private closed-door event for selected guests, was organised on the request of Daniyar’s family, who also paid for it.

“They requested the function so that they can celebrate the wedding with their friends here.

“Although it was hosted by the prime minister’s family, the request came from the groom’s side and the cost was borne by them,” he was quoted saying.

Rizal also told Malaysiakini that the wedding planner, a local, is skilful enough to turn even a moderate event into posh one.

“Even when someone wears a cheap dress, this person can make it look expensive. There was no wastage at all since most of the items were rented,” he was quoted saying without naming the wedding planner.

He explained that the event was meant to be a closed-door affair because had it involved the media, Najib’s family would have been accused of “showing off”.

According to reports, invited guests were told not to post photographs of the event on social media.

Despite the instruction, however, pictures of ceremony were leaked online and has since been used by Najib’s critics as alleged proof of his family’s lavish lifestyle.

Even Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad has commented on the event, calling it the “wedding of the century”.

On Wednesday, the former prime minister raised question over rumours that some RM3 million alone had been spent for the flower decorations at the ceremony.

“There are rumours out there that she (Najib’s wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor) spent RM3 million just for flower decorations for the (wedding).

“The problem is orang cerita (people talk). I do not know if it is factual, but I think there are some facts.

“Itu jadi masalah (that is the problem),” he was quoted saying after an event in Kajang.