WITH Religious Affairs Minister Datuk Zulkifli Mohamad Al-Bakri coming under fire for jet-setting to Saudi Arabia on a “fully-sponsored” trip, a Umno leader also joined the foray to hit out against the former.
“Two anti-graft experts have criticised Zulkilfi for agreeing to take a ‘fully-sponsored’ flight to Saudi Arabia. According to former Transparency International president Tan Sri Ramon Navaratnam, there is an ‘implied obligation’ in such things.
“Center to Combat Corruption and Cronyism (C4) executive director Cynthia Gabriel said there could be elements of corruption in the trip, if there is a quid pro quo involved,” Umno supreme council member, Datuk Puad Zarkashi said in a Facebook post.
Last week, the minister came under heavy fire after a video clip was circulated showing Zulkifli seated in a first-class cabin. His office said the flight was from Riyadh to Medina, sponsored by the Muslim World League, a non-governmental organisation (NGO) funded by the Saudi Government.
“The governor of Medina, Prince Faisal Salman Abdulaziz, invited (Zulkifli) when he found out that the minister was a graduate of the Islamic University of Medina.
“The sponsored flight is a mark of the good relationship between both countries,” his officer was reported saying.
Touching on the matter, Puad said that it was highly improper for a minister to ride on a private jet, even if it was sponsored as it could bring negative perception to the Government.
“It looks like even a holy man can make such mistakes. No minister should board a private jet even if it’s fully sponsored.
“Even a Deputy Prime Minister is disallowed from doing so, what more of a minister,” the former deputy minister remarked. – April 19, 2021
Photo credit: Astro Awani
