KUALA LUMPUR – Accusations that Datuk Seri Najib Razak is the reason for the RM38.5 million renovations on Seri Perdana have ruffled his feathers, prompting the former prime minister to lambast Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, who okayed the project during his tenure.
In a lengthy Facebook post last night, Najib said eighth prime minister Muhyiddin admitted that he had no plans of staying at the official residence.
Najib said he was informed of the intention to renovate by a Seri Perdana manager, who he alleged is related to Muhyiddin.
“They believed that because I took back personal items and furniture I bought, as well as gifts, the complex had to be renovated – a decision made by someone who had no intention of staying there.
“Then why bother spending RM38.5 million? (For Seri Perdana) to be left empty?
“I was only allowed to remove items from the official residence, from a list finalised by the Prime Minister’s Department (PMD). It was not according to my whims.
“Only those who are blinded by the ‘non-Pakatan Harapan manifesto’ – as coined by the Bersatu information chief – will buy that it was my moving out that forced Muhyiddin’s administration to approve the RM38.5 million renovations.”
The Pekan MP said his moving out of the complex should not be used as an excuse to spend RM38.5 million and later tell the rakyat that the government coffers have dried up.
He offered to gift the government the furniture he removed from Seri Perdana.
“My old furniture that PMD instructed me to remove is sitting in a warehouse. If the government wants it, I agree to give it for free.
“Just get in touch with my officers and pick whatever you want from the warehouse.”
Muhyiddin in a statement yesterday said he never occupied Seri Perdana during his 17 months as prime minister.
The renovations were criticised after Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob told the Dewan Rakyat that the works are necessary to ensure safety, as well as to preserve the country’s image during visits by key foreign dignitaries.
In a parliamentary reply, Ismail Sabri said the improvements include electrical wiring and mechanical works, as well as works on the air-conditioning systems and structural modifications to the official residential block.
Later, Special Functions Minister Datuk Abd Latiff Ahmad in a statement said the plan was given the green light in March, when Muhyiddin was prime minister.
“The project was approved on March 19, and repair works commenced on March 29. All the works are scheduled to be completed by December 7 this year.”
He added that restoration works are 74% completed, exceeding the estimated 71% as per the schedule. – The Vibes, October 1, 2021
