PMO: Najib's brothers, guests paid for their trip to Saudi

The names of those purportedly in Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak's delegation to Saudi Arabia for a five-day working visit have been making the rounds on social media.

Among them were the prime minister's brothers Nizam and Nazim, as well as their mother Rahah Mohammad Noah.

There were also individuals listed as “guests of the prime minister” in the purported list. They were Bustari Yusuf, Johrah Abdul Rahman, Amirul Rahman Abdul Rahim and Nazir Hussin Akthar Hussin.

In a media statement this afternoon, the Prime Minister's Office clarified that Najib's brothers and guests paid for the trip themselves.

“Only Tun Rahah was with Najib in the flight to Saudi Arabia,” it said.

The PMO said it was Najib's wish to perform the umrah during the working visit and therefore invited his family and several acquaintances to perform the umrah with him.

It stated that the names of the prime minister's brothers and guests were included in the official delegation list to facilitate the administration process with the Saudi authorities for the umrah programme.

“The prime minister and those in the delegation have been accorded the status of 'guests of the nation' by the Saudi government,” added the PMO.

Others purportedly in the delegation are Najib's wife Rosmah Mansor, their sons Nor Ashman and Riza Aziz, as well as their daughter Nooryana Najwa, son-in-law Daniyar Kessikbayev and grandson Adam Razak Daniyar.

Riza, who is Najib's stepson, was implicated in the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) civil forfeiture suit with regard to 1MDB.

The PMO statement does not mention the prime minister's children.

However, it stated that Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Jamil Khir Bahrom is also part of the delegation but his name was not among the 20 names making the rounds.

Others on the purported list are special officer to the prime minister Siti Azizah Sheikh Abod, advisor to the prime minister Khairil Annas Jusoh, director of international relations Ahmad Faisal Muhammad, personal physician to the prime minister, Dr Azhari Rosman, the prime minister's aide de camp Mohd Yusri Hassan Basri and private secretary to the prime minister Ahmad Fitri Ali.- Mkini