MAS denies waiving Najib's RM17,000 excess baggage charges

PETALING JAYA: Malaysia Airlines (MAS) denies that it waived RM17,000 in excess baggage charges for Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and his family and says the total check-in luggage for the trip was well within the allowed limit.

It was reported that allegations had arisen on social media that excess baggage charges of RM17,071.85 were waived for the former prime minister and his family when they flew to Pulau Langkawi for a holiday recently.

The airline said that generally, when passengers check-in as a group, all baggage may be combined and tagged under one name, and this would appear on the system as excess baggage.

"In this particular case, the group's total checked-in baggage was well within the allowable limit.

"Malaysia Airlines observes a strict policy on excess baggage and can confirm that no waivers were given," they said in a statement on Thursday (June 21).

MAS said it took the matter seriously and is currently investigating the source of viral screenshots.

The screenshots, said to be of the airline's ticketing system – show that the charges of RM17,071.85 were waived for the "head of pool" with the name "MOHDNAJIB Hjabrazak Dato" for flight MH1450 to Langkawi on June 16, with the return trip four days later on June 20.

It was reported that Najib and his family, including his wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, had a brief holiday in Pulau Langkawi from June 16-20.

Kedah police chief Commissioner Datuk Zainal Abidin Kasim on Monday (June 18) said Najib arrived in Langkawi on June 16 and spent his time playing golf on the island.

He also asked the public to stop speculation that Najib was attempting to leave the country via a northern route. Both Najib and Rosmah have been barred from leaving the country pending investigations into 1MDB.