Najib rejects house and land reward, says priority should be on the people's plight

MELAKA: Datuk Seri Najib Razak will reject the plot of land and house in Kuala Lumpur gifted by the government.

Najib said the land and house were gifted to him as a former premier, but had caused public unease due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.

"I decided to reject the reward although principally, the application is based on my being a former prime minister.

"I am aware that at this moment, the people are faced with tough times and the priority of the country should be on the people," he said on Friday (Nov 19), adding that he also did not want it to become a subject of controversy so close to the Melaka state election.

Najib suggested to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob to consider amending the Members of Parliament (Remuneration) Act 1980 that covers the benefits of former prime ministers.

"If there is a need, the government should rescind this privilege for all former prime ministers, including the one after me," he told a press conference at La Crista Hotel in Melaka.

Najib also denied that the house and land were worth RM100mil.

"I was not involved in the valuation so I don't know that," he added.

Najib then took a dig at former premier Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, questioning the Langkawi MP's use of the Perdana Leadership Foundation in Putrajaya.

"Dr Mahathir said the Perdana Leadership Foundation can be used by all former premiers, maybe he wants to invite me to use it," quipped Najib.

Najib explained that he was given three options to choose from, and he chose the location in Kuala Lumpur.

"Just like buying land, we pick the location that suits our needs," he added.

Najib also said the rejection was to ensure that the issue is not made into a controversy as the Melaka state election is on Saturday (Nov 20).

"I'm not even the candidate, the Umno president or Barisan chairman, that is why I decided to reject the reward," he said.

On Thursday (Nov 18), a shouting match erupted in Parliament after Finance Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz confirmed that the government was considering rewarding Najib with a piece of land and home worth RM100mil.

Dr Mahathir claimed that it was made known to him that RM60mil was for the purchase of a piece of land and RM40mil was to build a house on it.