The Malaysian Insight

FORMER prime minister Najib Razak has decided to withdraw his request for a plot of land valued at RM100 million.

In a press conference held on Facebook, the Pekan MP said he made the decision as people were not “comfortable” with it.

“I have made a decision to reject the offer, even though, on principle, it is based on my entitlement as a former prime minister,” he said during the press conference.

As a former prime minister, Najib, under a law introduced in the early 1980s, is entitled to choose one of three types of housing allowance as a form of reward from the government.

The facility, as listed under the Members of Parliament (Remuneration) Act, can be in the form of a government house complete with all amenities, a RM10,000 monthly allowance if he chooses to stay in his own home, or the ownership of a house gifted by the government.

The Pekan MP said when he was presented with the three options, he did not know the value of the land he chose.

“There were other options, three other sites given. So, I chose the site because it was offered to me by the PMO.

“I was not aware of the value. I don’t do the valuation.

“I came to know (the value) after it was widely publicised. I was not involved in the valuation and I never decided on what the valuation should be. I’m not party to it,” he said.

Najib also said it was strange that he was the individual being attacked in the run-up to the Malacca polls tomorrow.

“Malacca is the one undergoing an election and yet I’m the one being attacked. I’m not contesting there, neither am I the Umno president or BN chairman.”

Yesterday, Finance Minister Tengku Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz confirmed that the cabinet had received an application from Najib to obtain a property worth RM100 million in Kuala Lumpur.

Tengku Zafrul, however, did not confirm whether the application was approved.

The news sent shock waves among Malaysians, who criticised Najib for having the audacity to make such a request after the Pekan MP was convicted 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.

Najib said he had plans to build a home on the land.

Najib also suggested that, considering the matter did not sit well with the public, Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob review the entitlements, and, if necessary, revoke all benefits for all prime ministers after him.

He added that there was no need to revoke the privileges from former prime ministers who had already received them. – November 19, 2021.