PKR leader Dr Tan Kee Kwong has questioned who footed the bill for the engagement ceremony of Prime Minister Najib Razak's daughter which was held at Seri Perdana last night.
The guests' list which included royalty, politicians and members of the diplomatic corps totaled 810.
The dinner was held at the Prime Minister's residence in Putrajaya on the occasion of Najib's daughter, Nooryana Najwa's engagement to Daniyar Nazarbayev, who is a relative of Kazakhstan president Nursultan Nazarbayev.
“I understand that the purchase order to a leading hotel was issued in the name of the PM's Department which raises the question of who actually footed the bill for the catering, which came up to RM81,000,” queried Dr Tan.
The former Gerakan MP and deputy minister who is likely to be a candidate for PKR in the fast approaching general election, said his query was justified under any circumstances but more so in these 'belt-tightening times when the rising cost of living burdens the ordinary citizen.”
Bill footed by taxpayers?
Tan said: “Cuts to subsidies on fuel and other items mean a strapped existence for the already struggling rakyat so the question of who defrayed the cost of the prime minister's daughter's engagement dinner must come under scrutiny particularly when the purchase order was issued in the name of the PM's Department.“An order of this nature would ordinarily mean that the taxpayer is footing the bill which is unjustifiable under any circumstances, more so in these stringent times.”
Tan, who is also PKR disciplinary committee chairperson, said an explanation is called for because “there is no justification that the expenses of an occasion like this be met by anybody else save the prime minister.”
