Hishammuddin turns tables on Dr Mahathir over jet travel

Defence Minister says former prime minister also used a private jet to go campaigning in Kuala Kangsar

(FMT) – Former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad has been urged to look in the mirror before pointing fingers at the controversy surrounding the use of the government jet by the wife of Prime Minister Najib Razak.

In a Malaysiakini report, Defence Minister Hishammuddin Hussein told reporters he had heard that Mahathir himself, went to Kuala Kangsar in a private jet.

“If using private jets is an issue, I heard Mahathir went to Kuala Kangsar in a private jet, too.

“So if you want to point fingers, you have to look at yourself,” Hishammuddin was quoted as saying in Sungai Besar yesterday.

Yesterday, the Persatuan Mukabuku Penang Facebook page posted photos of Mahathir with a group of people in front of a private jet, including former Umno leader Khairuddin Abu Hassan.

Khairuddin, a fierce critic of Prime Minister Najib Razak confirmed to the portal that Mahathir had indeed taken the jet to Ipoh, before heading to Kuala Kangsar to campaign in the by-election.

However, he slammed those who criticised Mahathir for taking a jet, saying as a former PM, Mahathir had every right to use it.

It had been reported yesterday, that Mahathir challenged the police to drag him to court over allegations he made about Najib, and this way, he could in turn ask questions about the purported use of private jets by Rosmah.

Last week, PKR secretary-general Rafizi Ramli alleged that Rosmah had used a private jet for a trip to Istanbul, Turkey, last month.

Rosmah’s aide, Rizal Mansor, however, defended the use of the jet, citing Rosmah’s tight schedule.