Prasarana mum on Najib, family’s ‘preview’ ride

KUALA LUMPUR – Prasarana Malaysia Bhd CEO Mohd Azharuddin Mat Sah has declined to comment on the contentious move to allow Datuk Seri Najib Razak and his family to have an early preview of the new Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) Putrajaya Line Phase 1 yesterday.

Asked by The Vibes why the former prime minister, who has been convicted over the misappropriation of RM42 million belonging to SRC International Sdn Bhd, was given a preview ride, Azharuddin simply said: “No comment on that.”

Najib had yesterday posted photographs and videos of himself with some relatives apparently being guided on an MRT coach by officials of Prasarana, which owns and operates the MRT lines as well as the LRT and KL Monorail networks.

Azharuddin was accosted about the matter after current Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob launched the MRT Putrajaya line at the Kg Baru MRT station here today.

The Star reported  MRT Corp CEO Datuk Mohd Zarif Hashim as saying that Najib and his family were given a free ride on the line yesterday a day before the launch because he asked for it on Twitter.

“As you know, he actually tweeted that he loved to be on the train. We replied to the tweet,” he said after the launch.

On December 8, 2021, the Court of Appeal upheld Najib’s conviction and the 12-year jail sentence and the RM210 million fine for misappropriating RM42 million belonging to SRC International. 

The case is related to the scandal-hit sovereign wealth fund 1Malaysia Development Bhd which was set up during Najib’s time as prime minister.

The MRT project, which began construction in July 2011, is considered to be the brainchild of Najib, who first announced its proposal in June 2010 during the tabling of the 10th Malaysia Plan. 

Najib also launched the groundbreaking ceremony of the Putrajaya line in September 2016 while he was still the prime minister. 

In a Facebook post yesterday, Najib he was given a preview of the new Putrajaya line, and was joined by his daughter Nooryana Najwa Najib and grandson Adam. 

While many of the comments on Facebook had credited the Pekan MP for the success of the MRT project, those on Twitter were not as sympathetic, as they questioned how a convicted politician could be afforded such preferential treatment. 

Many also took issue with MRT Corp for inviting Najib to the special preview, including Perak Amanah Youth communications director Mohd Ikhmal Mohd Iskandar, who expressed his bemusement that Najib was given special access even before the country’s top leader, Ismail Sabri, had launched the line. 

"Can MRT Corp explain to the public the merit behind allowing a convicted criminal to ride on the new line before its official launch? 

“Did they overlook it or are they okay with the crimes committed by Najib during his tenure as prime minister and finance minister?” he asked. 

In a separate Facebook post last night, Najib said he was proud of the team behind the MRT Putrajaya line construction, claiming that the planning and implementation were no mean feats. 

Separately, he chided Pakatan Harapan for supposedly causing the postponement in the launch for the Putrajaya line, which he said should have been completed last year. 

“Because of their interference by cutting down on the stations, removing some facilities and infrastructure, there have been delays after delays. 

“We also remember the weaknesses of the PH government in managing other infrastructural projects, which have had great consequences for Malaysia’s development," he said. – The Vibes, June 16, 2022