Another minister has stepped up to defend the purchase of a new executive jet , in the wake of outcry from the public and former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

For International Trade and Industry Minister Mustapa Mohamed, the purchase is justified because "time is gold".

"This is important to speed up government business because for the leaders, time is gold," Mustapa ( left ) was reported by Bernama as saying in Kota Baru last night.

This comes soon after fellow cabinet minister Ismail Sabri said Indonesia’s President Joko Widodo has a " bigger " executive jet.

The Airbus jet is meant for the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, prime minister and senior ministers.

The Prime Minister’s Office said the jet is purchased to replace a 16-year-old model which is part of the fleet.

Many heads of governments travel via executive jet, but the Hong Kong chief executive and the prime ministers of Singapore, Norway and New Zealand are among those who reportedly fly commercial.

The jet is among the various issues that Mahathir is griping about in his ongoing scathing attacks against Najib.

Other issues include Najib’s debt-laden brainchild 1Malaysia Development Bhd and the murder of Mongolian woman Altantuya Shaariibuu.

Maha Firaun

Despite the criticism, Mustapa, who has served under three prime ministers, said Najib is doing fine and should be supported.

Najib’s 1Malaysia concept has fostered solidarity among citizens in a multi-racial nation while Bantuan Rakyat 1Malaysia is especially helpful to the low-income people, he said.

"I am an old hand and have served three prime ministers (Mahathir, Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and Najib). I had served with Dr Mahathir in the National Economic Action Council.

"People called him numerous names such as ' Maha Firaun ' (the Great Pharaoh). But we defended him because we felt he was the most qualified to lead," Mustapa said.

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