Screenshots: Luxury Jet: 'Government should have bought bigger plane like 747 or A380'

This is via Singapore Straits Times (February 1, 2007), datelined Kuala Lumpur:

Asked to comment on the government's lease of a jet that allegedly cost US$50 million (RM200 million), Tun Dr Mahathir said the government should have bought a bigger plane.

Bloggers and news portals had claimed that the Prime Minister is buying an Airbus A319 jet for his own use at a time when he is curbing public spending.

However, the Premier said on Monday that the jet is for the use of top officials, including the King.

He denied that the government is buying the plane, and said it would be leased from Penerbangan Malaysia Bhd (PMB), the parent company of national carrier Malaysia Airlines.

Datuk Seri Abdullah's explanation has been challenged by the opposition and bloggers who point out that PMB is a company owned by government investment fund Khazanah Nasional.

Tun Dr Mahathir's take on leasing a jet: 'It's necessary. I thought it should be a 747 or A380 but the government is being very careful because the government has no money. This plane costs only RM200 million.

'It is not bought by the government, it's bought by somebody else, and that somebody else is owned 100 per cent by the government.'

Journo-blogger The Scribe checked the Penerbangan Malaysia Bhd (PMB) website and concluded this:

In short, PMB, which is under the Finance Minister Inc, whose ultimate boss is the Prime Minister, bought the jet and leased it to the government, whose ultimate boss is also the Prime Minister.

In simple term, the Prime Minister, through PMB, bought the plane and leased it to the government, which he leads.

In case you missed the context, this is what national news agency Bernama reported the PM as saying:

And contrast this from PMB's website:

Blogs were right after all, weren't they? For Screenshots, a responsible blogger just needs to give what the responsible journalists reported a context to ponder.

Comments

Siakap senohong
Gelama ikan duri
Bercakap bohong
Lama-lama jadi pencuri

Posted by: gearstick | February 2, 2007 09:33 PM

Mainstream media don't report on locally invented nigerian scams. Do they?

Posted by: hasilox | February 2, 2007 09:49 PM

It's a significant conflict of interest by PM if the described scenario were true. Thus he needs to make a declaration. Transfer pricing? Money laundering? Head scratching lah!

Posted by: 2kt | February 2, 2007 10:32 PM

Does PM Abdullah Badawi take us as fools that he can try to pull the proverbial wool over our eyes? Whether the government buys the Airbus A319 plane directly or through PMB, it is still ultimately the people's money that is being so extravantly being spent! This PM is a hypocrite for telling the cabinet and the country to cut down on spending when he himself is the one that is giving the instructions to buy the A319 airliner as an executive jet.

The A319 is a 124 passenger airplane! What possible need does the PM have for wanting a plane this size even if it is meant for the use of others, including the YDP Agung, as he says it! Is this not total extravangance of a very ugly nature when US55 million or RM200 million could have been used for so many other worthwhile and more urgent needs like rebuilding the shattered lives of the flood victims in Johor, Malacca and Pahang? Is the PM now behaving like some African despot to show off his personal transport? Is this plane the beginning of a Malaysia Air Force One?

The PM should be ashame of himself and the advisors who recommended this purchase should be castigated and sacked! Fellow Malaysians, Remember all this the next time you want to vote for the ruling Barisan Nasional, the government who cares not for the people but who jet-sets while we struggle!

Posted by: superjim | February 2, 2007 11:50 PM

Penang Hokkien will say, "L.B.B.L." Ha ha ha...

Posted by: cyleow | February 3, 2007 03:28 AM

abdullah did not lie..he said someone else bought it for him..only he did not say that he is boss of PMB.

Clever huh?

Posted by: art chan | February 3, 2007 08:33 AM

Bila berbicara selalu bohong.

Bila berjanji, tidak ditepati.

Bila diberi kepercayaan selalu berkhianat.

Posted by: holiday | February 3, 2007 11:26 AM

So, there are many ways to skin a cat...right? You just don't have to tell the people you are doing it.

Posted by: JacknJill | February 3, 2007 12:20 PM

I guess this is also why he is not feeling any pain from the high cost of our petrol prices. He is not the one buying it!

Posted by: JacknJill | February 3, 2007 12:24 PM

He must be thinking no one else is cleverer than him.

Posted by: streetz | February 3, 2007 04:55 PM

I cannot believe it..can someone stoooopid thinks the rest are stoooopider. Or is the same stooopid person is asleep.

Posted by: art chan | February 3, 2007 05:24 PM

dont u see the blatant lies and deception. Surely the kampung fellas will buy it easily and yes majority of them wont hv access to alternate news. Also he doesnt gv a dang as to whether we bocor his lies as he is taking it as "nothing u can do abt it", not now, not in the next GE as the war chest is aplenty and yes money talks.

Posted by: groo | February 3, 2007 11:28 PM

superjim,

if you wanna put in a swimming pool and maybe an australian nasi kandar lounge, well...the size is almost there already.

Posted by: beefstew | February 4, 2007 12:36 AM

His answer here is the same analogy as his so-called "explanations" on Scomi. Petronas did not award any contracts to his son despite his son controls Scomi. No wonder his policies reflect similar traits.He did not embarassed Koh Tsu Koon with those "wild" banners, as it is the Youth and not him. Really makes you wonder if he is really in control based on all these replies? Perhaps a prepared text for him by the "budak budak" of 4th Floor and he dont understand it at all when he read them out? You make your own conclusion, I already made mine.My dog is actually quite clever, cant even feed him overnite food!

Posted by: maggieq | February 4, 2007 03:12 PM

Perhaps the government should consider to use the service of this company?

Posted by: Eng Aun | February 5, 2007 02:06 AM

I think PM AAB do not even know that he is the Boss of PMB...

Tidurlah PM ku, tidur
Nasi dah nak jadi bubur

Posted by: robin hood | February 5, 2007 09:34 AM

How many more VIP jet does the goverment need??

They still have
1X Boeing 737 BBJ
1X Bombardier Global Express
1X Bombardier CRJ
1X Dassault Falcon 900
1X Gulfstream iv (petronas)
1X Fokker F28

Now another one??

Posted by: xxxx | February 14, 2007 12:32 AM

INTERNET does not operate in a legal vacuum.
Read this before you post a comment in this blog!