Former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak has admitted that his office has applied for a house from the government, but said this was made under a law that was enacted during Dr Mahathir Mohamad's premiership in 2003.
"He himself amended the law when he was the fourth prime minister. My office merely applied to be given a house after the 14th general election in accordance to the law he amended," he said in a Facebook post today.
The issue was raised after his archrival Mahathir asked in the Dewan Rakyat why Najib’s request for land and housing was not included in the Budget 2022.
In his reply, Finance Minister Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz confirmed that the cabinet discussed the matter and has yet to finalised it, but was coy when MPs asked whether any preliminary agreement or decision was made.
Under Section 21 of the Members of Parliament (Remuneration) Act 1980, former prime ministers are entitled to allowances and privileges decided by the cabinet from time to time.
Najib showed a document purporting that, pursuant to Section 21, the cabinet has decided to provide former prime ministers with one of several means, including a RM10,000 monthly allowance if they opt to stay in their own house.
Another option is to be offered a government house fit for the stature of a former prime minister.
The document is marked "Secret/Restricted".
The Pekan MP said his office had made the application in 2018 following the 14th general election, and picked one of three properties offered by the government.
He said the government land near the Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka building in Kuala Lumpur was chosen because his family felt that was the most suitable location.
No approval yet
"It hasn't been approved by the current government.
"I did not ask for a RM100 million gift or told the government to spend money to buy land, but for a residence that is accorded to all former prime ministers," he said.
He also questioned why the matter is being raised years after the application was made, and linked the ongoing Malacca state election as a motive.
He also lamented that his office as former prime minister is merely a rented bungalow in Bukit Pantai, in contrast to Mahathir's office at the Perdana Leadership Foundation's vast complex in Putrajaya.
It was previously reported based on a source that Najib had requested a privilege from the government in the form of a 1.1ha residential property worth RM100 million in Kuala Lumpur.
The source also claimed that the request had been approved, though it was drawing protests from ministers and senior officials.
Najib was sentenced to 12 years in jail and fined RM210 million last year after he was found guilty of seven counts of criminal breach of trust, money laundering and abuse of power involving RM42 million in funds from former 1MDB unit SRC International.
His appeal against the conviction is still pending. - Mkini
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