(May 17): Finally breaking his silence, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak today defended the purchase of a new private jet, saying that it was not for luxury.

In his www.najibrazak.com blog post today (Sunday, May 17), where he answered critics on various issues, had insisted that it was "standard practice" for most world leaders to use official jets.

"Not for luxury, but for efficiency in carrying out their duties."

This follows a report in March where opposition party, PKR, slammed Putrajaya for adding a seventh jet to its fleet.

The new jet, an Airbus ACJ320, added PKR, was secured through a direct negotiation hire-purchase deal with Jet Premier One, the same company handling the current Airbus ACJ319 jet used by the prime minister.

The new jet was secured for RM28.8 million yearly in hire purchase and RM5.5 million in yearly maintenance cost, excluding fuel cost.

Najib said in his blog that the aircraft’s interior has been configured to cater for meetings and discussions to be held on board and that work could continue even during flights.

"Therefore the question does not arise as to whether or not a country should have an official jet.

"We must not be taken in by the opposition propaganda that the government was wasting money on a new jet."

Najib said the opposition had failed to explain that the jet was purchased to replace a 16-year-old aircraft that was becoming a safety hazard.

"Moreover, it is also the official aircraft used by the Yang Di-Pertuan Agong, providing all the more reason for us not to compromise on safety and security."

At the same time, he said the cost of maintaining an old aircraft, a Boeing Business Jet, was high, thus needed to be disposed of.

"The money the government makes from its sale will clearly reduce the cost paid for the new aircraft.”

Putrajaya had earlier said that the decision to purchase the new plane was made two years ago in view of the increasing costs required to maintain the older aircraft.

It, however, received heavy criticism with many questioning why the purchase had to be made at a time when the people were faced with high cost of living and implementation of the goods and services tax. – The Malaysian Insider