PUTRAJAYA paid an excess of RM109 million for a private jet for the Prime Minister's use from Jet Premier One (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd? (JPO), a private company who had acquired the aircraft from Air Luther AG, PKR secretary-general Rafizi Ramli said today.

Its secretary-general Rafizi Ramli said that this amount was derived from the current market value of the ACJ320 compared to the price the Malaysian government had paid to JPO.

"JPO sold the ACJ320 private jet at a hire purchase price, causing Putrajaya to pay a higher price from the cost that it would incur if it had bought the jet itself, without JPO," he said in a press conference at the Parliament lobby today.

"Not only was the purchase of the jet wasteful, but it was also made at a cost way higher than the maximum value of the aircraft. Based on my calculations, the government of Malaysia paid RM109 million more than the actual price."

Rafizi had revealed last week that Putrajaya had ordered a new private aircraft for Najib's use, which was later confirmed by the Prime Minister's Office, who said the Airbus corporate jetliner was purchased to replace the 16-year-old Boeing business jet.

Rafizi had said last week that the new purchase brings the tally to seven aircraft owned by the government.

Sungai Petani MP Datuk Johari Abdul said today that it was unacceptable for the government to have bought the jet at a marked up price at a time when the people were upset over the increasing prices of goods and the impending goods and services tax (GST).

"This is like double jeopardy... when the people are suffering, they buy a jet and on top of that, they buy it at a marked up price," he added.

Rafizi said that he would reveal the owner of JPO, the company that bought the jet from Air Luther and sold it to the government, in a press conference tomorrow.

The Pandan MP had revealed yesterday that Putrajaya had spent US$8 million (RM28 million) to upgrade the recently-purchased private jet for the use of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak and his family.

"The US$8 million was included in the sale price which was the base of the hire purchase price of RM465 million that was borne by the Malaysian government," he had said. – March 24, 2015.