PAKATAN Harapan has questioned whether Malaysia Airlines really needs to buy Boeing planes, as announced by Prime Minister Najib Razak during his meeting with US President Donald Trump.

Bersatu strategic director Dr Rais Hussin said in June last year, MAS had to lay off 6,000 staff as part of its restructuring plan.

“Before that, 5,000 staff were laid off and another 12,000 lost their jobs.

“The idea is to to cut cost and generate profits that will benefit the company,” he said at a press conference at the Bersatu office in Petaling Jaya.

Rais said as part of cost-cutting measures, MAS had to sell some of its planes recently.

“With all this happening, why does Najib have to buy more planes?

“The main question that has to be asked is, how are they going to get the funds to buy the planes?”

During Najib’s meeting with Trump, the prime minister said Malaysia intended to increase the number of Boeing aircraft to be purchased by the national flag carrier.

“We are committed to 25 planes of 737-MAX 10, eight 787 Dreamliners, and there is a strong probability, not possibility, that we will add 24 or 25 more 737-MAX 10 in the near future.”

Rais questioned if Putrajaya would issue bonds to purchase the planes.

“When the bonds are issued, what will happen if the government still can’t pay for the planes? Is there going to be another bailout?

“These are the questions that need to be asked.”

He added that Najib’s White House meeting was the most expensive photo opportunity in Malaysia’s history.

Present were Amanah strategic director Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad, PH information chief Tony Pua and PKR strategic director Sim Tze Tzin.

Mocking Najib’s meeting with Trump, the opposition leaders wore wigs at the press conference.

The opposition also slammed Najib’s announcement that Malaysia will invest US$24 billion (RM100 billion) in the US.

In the meeting, Najib said the Employees Provident Fund was going to spend an additional US$3 billion to US$4 billion on infrastructure redevelopment in the US. – September 14, 2017.