Anwar says he uses only commercial flights for personal matters

KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim yesterday sought to alleviate concerns of him using a government jet, by pointing out that he flew on a commercial flight to Penang for personal duties.

In a Facebook post, Anwar said he knew the difference between taking a commercial flight for personal matters and escorting his wife, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail for official matters and utilising government jets for the latter purpose.

“This morning I went to Penang on an ordinary commercial plane. No official jet,” he wrote in a caption that accompanied several photos of his journey on Facebook today.

In the photos, Anwar, who wore a blue baju Melayu, could be seen making his way through airport security, walking towards a Firefly commercial aircraft and sitting next to another passenger in the cabin.

“This is the difference between official DPM escort duties and personal duties,” he added.

He was scheduled to attend several programmes in Permatang Pauh where his daughter Nurul Izzah Anwar is the incumbent MP.

Earlier, a user posted photographs of Dr Wan Azizah along with her husband, PKR de facto leader Anwar, and two of their daughters against the backdrop of a government jet.

Subsequently Nurul Izzah dispelled criticism of her family's use of a private jet when visiting the Yang di-Pertuan Agong by saying the trip was an official visit.

She was answering a user on Twitter who asked if the new Pakatan Harapan government was already adopting the abuses frequently associated with the defeated Barisan Nasional.

“Official invitation, which was also extended to [Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail's] family. Attitudes of old leaders will not be repeated, such as using jets for holidays and personal needs.

“Thank you for the reminder, we definitely cannot compromise,” she wrote.