If furniture belonged to Najib, he had the right to take them, says Muhyiddin

 

Muhyiddin Yassin said he was not sure if any inventory was taken as it was not his responsibility.

KUALA LUMPUR: Former prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin said today that he had received a report from the prime minister’s department (PMD) that some of the furniture and chandeliers at Seri Perdana belonged to Najib Razak.

He said he did not stay at the residence when he was prime minister, but was told that there was furniture belonging to the sixth prime minister.

“There was furniture and chandeliers that were said to belong to the sixth prime minister.

“If they were his, as claimed, then it was up to the PMD to allow him to take them,” he told reporters.

The removal of the items was also to allow repairs to be carried out at the prime minister’s official residence, he added.

Muhyiddin said he was not sure if any inventory was taken as it was not his responsibility.

He was speaking to reporters after a three-hour, closed-door Perikatan Nasional Supreme Council meeting at the Bersatu headquarters, here.

Yesterday, Najib questioned the RM38.5 million spent by the government to carry out repair and renovation work at the sprawling complex in Putrajaya.

Earlier, it was reported that Muhyiddin had said he approved the Seri Perdana renovations after receiving a detailed report from the PMD on extensive damage to the 22-year-old complex.

He had said the damage involved leaks, old lighting systems, poor flooring conditions, and damaged roofing.

The leaking roof and old piping had also damaged the built-in cabinets, wooden flooring, wall panels and ceiling.

Muhyiddin had further said he was informed that the electrical wiring and lighting and mechanical equipment, such as the air conditioning, had to be repaired.

The size of the complex, which covers an area of more than 5,202 sq m, also made the cost of repairing the government-owned building quite high, Muhyiddin was reported to have said.

His response came after special functions minister Abd Latiff Ahmad told Parliament that plans to renovate the complex to the tune of RM38.5 million were given the green light in March, when Muhyiddin was the prime minister. - FMT