Banquet order from PMO 'clear abuse of power'

Despite denials by Shangri-La Hotel, PKR today insisted that Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak had indeed abused his power in the payment of the catering bill for his daughter’s engagement party.

Speaking to reporters, PKR strategic director Rafizi Ramli said that the very fact the banquet event order was billed to the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), constitutes an abuse of power.

“The fact that the order was done through the PMO for his private affair is already an abuse of power.

“He is using his office facility for a personal function,” said Rafizi when met at the Parliament lobby.

He was responding to Shangri-La Hotel’s claim that the premier had personally paid the RM409,767 bill about two weeks after the event.

Wagyu beef on the menu

Last week, Rafizi unveiled documents which allegedly showed that the PMO, and not Najib himself, was billed for the event.

The documents showed that 900 guests at the event were served lobster bisque and wagyu beef.

Rafizi said that there are some fundamental questions which the PMO must now answer, such as why it was mentioned on the hotel’s booking documents.

“Why was it made to the Prime Minister’s Office account and not the premier’s personal account?” he asked.

He pointed out that in the case of Anwar Ibrahim back in 1998, he was booked for abuse of power just because he had instructed the police to perform certain investigations.

Rafizi argued that the same should apply to Najib.

He is scheduled to hold a press conference tomorrow to divulge more details on the matter.