Businessman admits private jet loaned to Anwar, declines to reveal for how much

(The Star) – A businessman has admitted to providing a private jet to Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim but declined to say for how much.

TJets Sdn Bhd chairman Datuk Mohd Taufik Omar also denied being the jet’s owner.

“My company only manages the private jet,” said the 48-year-old.

“As it is a private jet, it should remain a private matter.”

Pressed to reveal if he was the real owner, Mohd Taufik said: “Am I that rich? I am just trying to cari makan (earn a living).”

Mohd Taufik was asked to comment on the buzz in cyberspace following an expose by blogger John F. Seademon that Mohd Taufik was the businessman who had loaned the jet to the Opposition Leader.

Bloggers were abuzz over the “jet-setting ways” of Pakatan Rakyat leaders, following PKR vice-president Tian Chua‘s tweets on Sept 15 showing photographs of the Dassault Falcon jet and several Opposition leaders enjoying its posh setting.

Earlier yesterday, Anwar had said a “KL businessman” owned the jet.

Anwar said he had asked the businessman if he had any interests in Selangor, Penang and Kelantan, to which he categorically said “no”.

Mohd Taufik, who is Malaysia Judo Association president, is also the chairman of LD Sports Sdn Bhd, Kenangan Nilam Sdn Bhd, Asiana Inspirasi Sdn Bhd, KN Capital Sdn Bhd and T Corp Labuan. He is also the director of Health Solutions (SE Asia) Sdn Bhd, CltlTower Sdn Bhd, Aliran Modern Sdn Bhd and Vasseti Bhd.

Anwar admitted to having borrowed jets from Arab businessmen when he was invited to lecture at Georgetown University in the United States and from the Saudi royal family for a medical trip to Germany.

Tian Chua said Pakatan leaders could now enjoy trips on private jets, adding that some friends had chartered the jet with the registration number N990BB.

PKR Wanita chief Zuraida Kamaruddin, who was also among the Pakatan leaders on board the plane, said they had used the jet on Sept 15 and 16 to travel to Labuan, Kota Kinabalu and Kuching.