Najib claims Dr M paid lobbyist ‘millions’ to arrange meeting with George Bush

(The Star) – Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak has hit out at Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, claiming that the former premier’s meeting with a past United States president was arranged by a lobbyist.

The Prime Minister claimed that Dr Mahathir had engaged the services of a Hong Kong-based lobbyist so that he could secure a meeting with former United States president George W. Bush.

“He paid the lobbyist millions of ringgit. I know about this and so does (Datuk Seri) Dr Ahmad Zahid (Hamidi).

“The lobbyist was awarded with a lucrative coal project,” he said upon arriving at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport here on Friday night.

Najib said Trump and his administration had accorded him an exceptional welcome.

He also spoke of how Trump insisted on sending him off by walking him to the car, despite a White House officer telling the President that the vehicle was in the basement.

“President Trump said to his officer: It’s okay, I want to send him to the car. He’s my friend,” said Najib.

Najib hit out further at Dr Mahathir for criticising the Employees Provident Fund’s plans to expand its investment in the United States, saying that the latter in 2005 had said the Fund should invest more overseas to get higher returns.

On Malaysia Airlines’ purchases of new Boeing aircraft, Najib said this was purely the airline’s decision, which was made last year.

“My visit to the US was not to beg, but to convey to them that Malaysia is a global player.

“My good relations with other nations like Saudi Arabia, China and the US is for the benefit of the country” he said.

Najib was in the United States at the invitation of Trump. He also made a stop in London for a meeting with his British counterpart Theresa May.