If the Malaysian government needs to save money, then they should sell those planes - after all, if the Prime Minister needs to travel anywhere, I am sure MAS, or even Air Asia could provide a plane. Alternatively, I believe he can use one of the Navy or Air Force planes - or just 'rent a plane'.
We, after all is not a rich country, but a country which has almost RM500 billion in debts...going 'almost bankrupt' and Malaysians are told that we will not be able to enjoy fuel, food, etc subsidies.... so, is it not time to dispose of the at least 5 planes Malaysia has and is maintaining...
Travel 'first class' on commercial airlines... or just keep one plane for emergency travel by the PM...or Ministers..
What's the use of 'showing off' that Malaysia is rich and we have so many planes ... be humble, save money for Malaysia - money that best could be used to help the poor in Malaysia
Mahathir: I did not need big, fancy jets
Malaysiakini – Thu, Jan 9, 2014
Dr Mahathir Mohamad said he did not need big luxury
jets during his 22 years in power but added that perhaps the current
government had more funds to afford such an indulgence.
Speaking at Angkasapuri after appearing on a RTM2 programme to mark
his 11 years of retirement, the former prime minister said he even opted
to downgrade his jet during his early years in office.
"In 1981, I inherited a Boeing 737 from the previous PM - he had
problems travelling, so I can understand why he has to have a big plane.
"I used the plane for a short while and I asked them what is the
cost. They told me it will cost the government RM2 million a year. Then
(I decided) we sell the plane, I need a small plane. So it was reduced
to a Challenger," he told reporters.
Last November, the Prime Minister's Department told Parliament that
the government now owns at least five planes including a Boeing Business
Jet.
The aircraft, meant for use by VVIPs, including the prime minister
and the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, include a Falcon, Global Express, Boeing
Business Jet, Blackhawk, two Augustas and a Fokker F28.
Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Shahidan Kassim said that
in 2012, the costs for the jets were RM14.95 million in fuel and
RM160.08 million in maintenance costs.
Mahathir was asked if he thought Najib's spending on jets were excessive.
'The government is much richer now'
"Well of course now, the government is much richer than during my time, then may be they should upgrade" he said.
Later, Mahathir said, he did loosen the government purse on jet spending for practical reasons.
"Subsequently, I bought a slightly bigger plane because I had to
travel slightly longer distances. But when I stepped down, I didn't have
these big planes," he said.
He then recalled that his government did buy one Boeing business jet
for the Yang di-Pertuan Agong. "But that was not for my use," he quickly
added.
Opposition MPs recently questioned why, despite calls for austerity
measures and the cutting back of subsidies and raising of taxes to cure
the government deficit, the prime minister and his wife Rosmah Mansor
went around in private jets.
Defending the move, Rosmah said that her use of the government jet
for a trip to the Middle East was referred to the cabinet and that her
travels were for 'work' purposes.
She said this response to criticism of her use of the jet for the
trip to Qatar, which was raised in Parliament by Gombak MP Azmin Ali.
Last week, pro-Umno bloggers also asked whether Najib had not one but
two luxury jets in service, as an Airbus ACJ320 was reportedly leased
to the government.
The Prime Minister's Office said the lease of the Airbus ACJ320, which began on Feb 1, 2013, ended on Dec 31 that year.
The lease of the Airbus ACJ320 was necessary because of a shortage of government aircraft, it added. - Yahoo! News Malaysia
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