No one should question the right of Rosmah Mansor’s hiring
of a private jet as it is her right and duty as the prime minister’s wife, said
an Umno leader.
“Don’t (expect) the wife of the prime minister to travel on
a normal flight schedule, I don’t think there is a leader in the world who does
this.
“So, let’s not deny the right of a prime minister’s wife or
prime minister by saying or trying to give the impression that (the flight) had
been hired for private use,” Umno information chief Annuar Musa told
Malaysiakini.
He was asked when met after breaking fast in Manong, Kuala
Kangsar yesterday during the by-election campaign, to comment on PKR
secretary-general Rafizi Ramli’s continued expose on Rosmah using a private jet
for a trip to Istanbul.
Rafizi last Wednesday revealed that Rosmah flew in the hired
aircraft to Turkey to accept the 3G Children Welfare Award on behalf of early
childhood programme Permata.
The PKR leader alleged the plane had been chartered for two
months, and estimated it would have cost the government RM86.4 million.
Annuar, who is an Umno supreme council member, said there is
no abuse of power in the case the jet trip.
“There is a difference between private business and the
duties of the wife of a prime minister, and the duties of the prime minister’s
wife must be respected.
“It must be given right and status, along with what she is
eligible for.
“Therefore the question of wrongdoing doesn’t arise at all,”
he said.
'Don't go overboard'
He called Rafizi’s claims “baseless” and done in bad taste
especially in the holy month of Ramadan when Muslims are fasting.
“I believe we should exercise some restraint although we
want to play politics, let’s do it with care and base it on certain values in
accordance with good Muslims,” he said.
“That jet can be rented out to anyone, and anyone can hire
it, that’s all,” he reiterated.
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