Syed Saddiq slams govt for approving Najib’s RM100 million house

Muar MP Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman today slammed the government for approving the expenditure of RM100 million on a house in an upscale area of Kuala Lumpur for former prime minister Najib Razak, asking how the decision could have been passed by the Cabinet.

“This matter was approved by the Cabinet,” he said in a Twitter post.

“Surely there was at least some objection to it when it was presented?! This government is more willing to sell the dignity of the country than help its own people.”

MalaysiaNow previously reported that Najib had requested a “privilege” from the government in the form of a 2.8-acre residential property worth RM100 million in the capital city.

The “privilege” to Najib would include the government surrendering the ownership of the premium land covering more than 120,000 square metres in Bukit Petaling, an exclusive hillock in the heart of Kuala Lumpur, as well as the construction of a bungalow on the site at a total cost of RM100 million.

It is understood that Najib made a formal request to the government early this year following a site visit of the vacant land.

MalaysiaNow also reported that the decision to approve Najib’s request did not sit well with some senior government officials and ministers who pointed to his corruption conviction, with indications that several ministers including from the Perikatan Nasional coalition as well as Umno leaders from the anti-Najib camp had opposed the move.

The matter came up in the Dewan Rakyat today when former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad asked why it was not explained in the 2022 budget, tabled at the end of last month.

Syed Saddiq also questioned how Najib could have been given the house in light of his conviction on seven counts of corruption.

“Embezzle billions in government funds and he can be given RM100 million! But when we ask for equal allocations, they say there is not enough money.”