Najib’s family, guests paid their own way

KUALA LUMPUR: The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s family members and guests, who accompanied him on his working visit to Saudi Arabia, paid their own expenses.

PMO, in a statement on Facebook yesterday, said Najib had invited his family members and acquaintances to accompany him to perform umrah (minor haj) during his five-day trip.

It said Najib was invited by Saudi King Salman Abdulaziz Al Saud to discuss bilateral issues, which had been agreed on by both countries during the latter’s visit to Malaysia last year.

Members of the delegation included Najib’s mother, Tun Rahah Mohammad Noah, his wife, Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Jamil Khir Baharom, several other family members, acquaintances and officers.

“It is the intention of the prime minister to perform umrah during this working visit. Therefore, he invited family members and some acquaintances, as well as his officers,” the statement read.

It als o said that Najib’s siblings and acquaintances had paid for their own expenses to the Holy Land.

“Only his mother was in the same plane with him.”

PMO said all the names had been included in the official list of the prime minister’s delegation for ease of administrative purpose with the Saudi government for umrah.

“Najib and his entourage have also been given state guest status by the Saudi government,” the statement said.

The statement from PMO came after an image of the entourage list, which included Najib’s family members and acquaintances, went viral on social media.