Malaysia's consul-general in Perth, Hamidah Ashari, in a letter to the New Straits Times on Tuesday, denied premier Najib Abdul Razak's daughter was there for the recent Commonwealth Heads of government meeting (CHOGM).

NONE Hamidah was responding to a recent article in the West Australian daily titled 'Delegates go shopping, sightseeing' which claimed Najib's daughter spent A$60,000 (RM195,000) at the David Jones department store.

"The consulate-general wishes to put on record that the daughter of the PM was not part of the delegation attending CHOGM nor was she ever in Perth at that time.

"Therefore, the allegation of her making the purchases is not true," Hamidah said in the ' Letters to editor ' section.

The NST also quoted Najib's political secretary Fatmi Che Salleh as denying that the PM's daughter was in Perth.

"As far as I know, she did not go with the prime minister.

"So, if she was not there, then the story is obviously not right," Fatmi was quoted to have told reporters in Kota Baru yesterday.

Najib and his wife Rosmah Mansor have come under severe criticism after the report in the the West Australian was picked up by opposition politicians and bloggers.

Malaysiakini contacted the West Australian to get confirmation of the report, but the reporter responsible has been out of reach, while text messages are yet unanswered.

PPP president M Kayveas, who was reported by PKR mouthpiece Keadilan Daily to have been part of Najib's Perth delegation, denied that he was in the delegation.

"Since Najib became PM, I have never been included in any of his delegations (but) as a party president, I see him off whenever I am available to do so," Kayveas said when contacted.

He added that he has not been part of any official state delegation as he does not hold a government post.

"Poeple who don't have a government post cannot be part of delegations; who will pay for the hotel expenses and all that?" Kayveas asked.