Najib seat change not my call, says Dr Mahathir

Noel Achariam Noel Achariam Updated 6 years ago · Published on 1 Aug 2019 11:08PM · 6 Comments

Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad says that seating arrangements for the installation of the Agong on Tuesday were handled by Istana Negara and he was not involved in moving Najib Razak to a new seat. – The Malaysian Insight file pic, August 1, 2019.

PRIME Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad said today that he was unaware of a change in former prime minister Najib Razak’s seating position during the Yang di-Pertuan Agong’s installation ceremony on Tuesday.

The prime minister said seating arrangements were managed by Istana Negara.

“I didn’t see anything. That is the work of the palace (to move Najib to the seating area meant for Orang Besar Pahang), not mine,” he said at a Kota Baru Teachers’ College alumni dinner.

A last-minute change in seating arrangement forced Najib to miss the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah’s installation because he was unable to find the required outfit in time.

In a Facebook post yesterday, Najib said he received a call at 6.30am on Tuesday informing him of the changes.

“According to the protocol, I was supposed to sit at the 10th position as the former prime minister, but it was changed to the seat of the Orang Besar Pahang,” he said.

“The ceremonial outfit of the Orang Besar Pahang and that of the former PM are not the same. Each position has its own protocols.

“Could not make it on time to obtain the outfit from Pekan.”

Sultan Abdullah, who was installed as the 16th Agong, is also the ruler of Najib’s home state of Pahang.

According to reports, Najib and wife Rosmah Mansor were supposed to sit in the same row as Dr Mahathir, his wife Dr Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali, Deputy Prime Minister Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail and her husband, PKR president Anwar Ibrahim.

Najib’s former aide, Isham Jalil, accused Putrajaya of changing the seating arrangement. – August 1, 2019.

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Comments

  • the change came from PMO, without PM knowledge it seems now ro be. Who is that PMO guy that made the request?

    Posted 6 years ago by Ab rahman bistamam · Reply

  • Better to ask him to sit outside. World known kleoptocrate, still warrant a place in Agong installation? Shameless Bugger. Shame to his whole family.

    Posted 6 years ago by James Wong · Reply

  • Would it be made a difference if this Clown came? No issue dont make a Fuss! It has happen before when a former PM was not even Invited.

    Posted 6 years ago by Danial Abdullah · Reply

    • I agreed, what goes will comes back our world is round

      Posted 6 years ago by MA63 SSS · Reply

  • He has a seat reserved in Sg Buloh

    Posted 6 years ago by Watch Dog · Reply

    • Very right, too long to see him not moving his seat in Sg Buloh.

      Posted 6 years ago by MA63 SSS · Reply