My RM9k asset is a motorcycle, says tourism minister

Tourism and Culture Minister Mohamaddin Ketapi says the only asset he has is a motorbike worth RM9,000.

When met in Sepang today, he said he was trying to save for his retirement but lamented that he doesn't have much money.

"At my age, I just want to save money. I don't want to buy any property, it would just give me a headache thinking about it," he told the media after witnessing AirAsia receive its first Airbus A321neo at Sepang Aircraft Engineering.

"I don't have much money to buy property. I would rather keep the money for my retirement. When I die, I will give my wife and children (the money)," he said.

While saying he owned no property except for a motorcycle, he admitted that his wife owned a house and his children have properties of their own.

"My wife, my children and my nephew have properties," Mohamaddin said, adding the house belonged to his wife and it was not under his name.

He also said that he had declared to the government about his wife's property.

"(I have) declared, no cheating one," he said.

Mohamaddin, who had claimed he had no assets, declared that he amassed RM9,338 in September, and this includes his wife's assets.

Netizens had questioned how Mohamaddin ended up with only RM9,388 when he earns a monthly wage of RM54,979.

Mohamaddin clarified that his exact wages in his hand were above RM40,000 per month.

Earlier, Mohamaddin witnessed the arrival of AirAsia's first Airbus A321neo at Sepang.

AirAsia Group chief executive officer Tony Fernandes said the low-cost carrier will replace its fleet of 253 planes with the model over six years.

He, however, declined to reveal the total cost of acquiring the new aircraft.

"Go to the Airbus website and check there, I cannot tell you the price. They (Airbus) have given us a price that enables us to have low fares," said Fernandes.

He said the new plane consumed 10 percent less fuel and had an extra 50 seats compared to Airbus A320neo currently being used by AirAsia.

"This plane is not about increasing airfares, it is about reducing airfares," stressed Fernandes adding that5 the new model flew on biofuel.

It was reported that the price of the A321neo was US$127 million per aircraft at the start of 2017.

Meanwhile, Mohamaddin said the cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad did not discuss a reshuffle today.

When asked if he was confident of retaining his tourism portfolio, he replied: "I don't bloody care."

He said if he was entrusted to continue as the tourism minister, he would continue with his duty.

"Well, it is not in my power to say I must sit down there forever," he added.

Mahathir had said two days ago that he was mulling a cabinet reshuffle. This following Pakatan Harapan's disastrous outing at the Tanjung Piai by-election.  

-Mkini