MELAKA – After being on the receiving end of public brickbats over his application for a plot of land and house with an estimated value of RM100 million, former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak has decided today not to take up the offer.
Speaking at a press conference, the Barisan Nasional adviser said he did not want the matter to be an issue played up by opponents in the Melaka election.
In the same regard, he said, he understood the government’s focus today should prioritise assisting the rakyat.
“As such, I have decided to reject the offer (of the plot of land), although in principle, all former prime ministers are entitled to it.
“And since this issue has caused uneasiness among various quarters, I also propose that the government relook at this allocation, and if required, cancel the offer for all future ex-prime ministers, including those after me.
“But of course for those who have already received it, the government need not withdraw the allocation.”
Pandemonium erupted in the Dewan Rakyat yesterday after Finance Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz confirmed the government had received an application by Najib for the RM100 million residence.
He added that the government is currently considering Najib’s request for the special privilege, which is accorded to former prime ministers under the Members of Parliament (Remuneration) Act 1980.
Najib had also earlier today said his application for the residence was made in 2018 after the 14th general election.
In this evening’s presser, the Pekan MP said certain people are playing up the matter to incite voters against him and had purposely used the Melaka election as a platform for their propaganda.
“My wife and I were turned into material suitable for Maharajalawak Mega (comedy show)…there was a lot more material on me, when I am not even a candidate for the Melaka election, nor do I hold any top position in Umno.”
Najib went on to question the motives of political rivals to incite voters and how this had benefited the rakyat since the last general election.
“Has the economy improved? Did our assets, dividends increase? Has the people’s welfare improved? Has the country become more stable, or has the stock market and foreign investment improved? What exactly?”
Najib said he was given three different options by the government to choose from before deciding on the RM100 million option but said he was uncertain of the values of the other plots of land.
“I chose the site because they were offered to me by the Prime Minister’s Department. I was not aware of the value then, because I didn’t do the valuation. I only came to know after it was widely publicised.
“I also don’t know the value of the other options. It is not my job to value them. That is the job of the authorities.” – The Vibes, November 19, 2021
