Fire and Rescue Department director-general Jaafar Sidek Thambi who landed in a hot spot following his son's grand wedding did not plan to hold such elaborate functions but was requested to do so by his staff, the Dewan Rakyat was told today.

Housing and Local Government Minister Ong Ka Ting also told parliamentarians that these were "personal" functions which did not exploit the department's equipment, vehicles or staff.

On the staff's involvement and the meetings held to organise the two functions, the minister said this was done in the department's spirit of gotong-royong (collective help).

The first reception on Sept 14 was held at Stadium Juara in Bukit Kiara and was attended by some 5,000 people. The next day, another function was held at the Renaissance Hotel in Kuala Lumpur, where 600 guests were feted.

Ong was replying to PAS MP for Pokok Sena Mahfuz Omar's allegation in Parliament last Thursday that Jaafar had abused his power by utilising his staff, the department's equipments and vehicles for his son's receptions.

Jaafar denied the allegation, claiming that the events reflected the departments's Bomba Boleh attitude.

The Fire and Rescue Department falls under the purview of the Housing and Local Government Ministry.

Photographs produced

Meanwhile, Ong said the director-general had told him that he was willing to be fully responsible in dispelling the allegations.

At this juncture, Mahfuz tried to provide additional information but was told to sit down by deputy speaker Lim See Cheng, who said that "no further questions were allowed" as the minister's time was limited.

However, the PAS leader was defiant and dished out another allegation that 18,000 eggs were boiled for bunga telur (a traditional Malay gift for guests who attend wedding receptions).

This, he said, reflected the scale of the functions.

Despite being repeatedly asked not to interrupt the minister, the opposition leader ignored the orders and shouted that he had the minutes of the meetings held by the department officers regarding the wedding.

He also showed several photographs which revealed the use of the department's equipment and vehicles.

When Mahfuz pressed for an assurance that the government will investigate the matter, Ong said it was unfair to presume that the director-general was guilty.

"Since he (Jaafar) is not here, I can't speak on his behalf," said the minister.

After office hours

Department deputy director-general (management) Wan Mohd Nor Ibrahim, who was in Parliament today to defend his boss, said that the meetings to organise the wedding were held after office hours.

On the photograph showing a generator belonging to the department at the stadium, he said the idea came from the staff who were involved in the organising committee. The generator was there in case of a black-out.

"It was not used anyway," he told malaysiakini when met at the parliament lobby.

Commenting on the meetings held at the department's premises, Wan Mohd said they were held there because of convenience.

"How could you expect the meetings to be held elsewhere when everyone is there (in the department's premises)," he said.

Wan Mohd Nor added that the wedding was held on a working day was not an issue because the reception began at noon, which was after office hours since it was a Saturday.