A group of youth NGOs has alleged that two prominent Umno ministers flew on the same kind of private jet used by PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim and several party leaders last week.

Representing nine NGOs, Ahmad Azrizal Tahir claimed that records by T Jets Sdn Bhd show that the two ministers were on the planes last year, and challenged BN-linked media to expose the details.

NONE He urged the mainstream media to reveal the sponsor or sponsors who made it possible for Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Jamil Khir Baharom to use the flight on Sept 23 last year.

“On Nov 15 last year, Defence Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi himself admitted to using the private jet which was sponsored by his ‘friend’ to fly to Saudi Arabia,” said Ahmad Azrizal, who is assistant to Batu Maung assemblyperson Abdul Malik Abul Kassim.

“Why is it such details do not make it to the regime’s (BN) media if they are really interested in transparency?” asked the state PKR Youth deputy chief.

“Who sponsored the minister, who is also an Umno vice-president, to fly on the jet, and what are their interests?” he asked at a press conference in Komtar today.

Anwar’s ‘friend’ paid for jet flight

Ahmad Azrizal was accompanied by representatives of Solidariti Anak Muda Malaysia (SAMM), Penang PKR Youth wing, DAP Socialist Youth, Penang PAS Youth wing,  Pertubuhan Unit Ehsan Pulau Pinang, Kelab Perpaduan Rakyat, Jingga 13, Batu Maung Indian Welfare and Culture Association and Malaysian Indian voice.

NONE Recently, Anwar, a former deputy prime minister, clarified that the flight in the jet - which flew to Labuan - was paid for by a friend, and came with no strings attached.

The issue gained the media spotlight after PKR vice-president and Batu MP Tian Chua posted a photo of his team inside the jet on his Twitter account.

Solidariti Anak Muda Malaysia chief Badrul Hisham Shaharin hit out at the media for its focus on the jet issue when there are more important and urgent matters in the country.

He listed them as corruption, the sufferings of the people during hard economic times and the country suffering the highest debt rate in history.

“We have found more than 70 alleged financial scandals involving billions of ringgit which have yet to be addressed by the government,” he said.

“The country is at a critical stage. We need everyone to come together as Malaysians to save this country.

"We need mature politics. Political parties should be challenging one another on their policies and on what they can offer the rakyat,” he added.

“If there was any wrongdoing by Anwar using the jet, the relevant parties should lodge a report with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission,” he stressed.

It is learnt that last year, the company T Jets provided the Dassault Falcon N990BB to a group of female youths participating in a reality show ' Solehah ', which was featured on the government Islamic TV station Al Hijrah , reported blogger Uppercaise .

In Episode 5 of the show, the youths were featured boarding the plane in a flight to Alor Setar, where they joined others for a Hari Raya celebration in which Jamil Khir was the guest-of-honour, the blogger added.