Minister in Prime Minister’s Department Jamil Khir Baharom said it is up to the ministers or state leaders if they want to hold record-breaking feasts for their family members’ weddings.

“It is up to the financial capability of the individual,” came the terse reply from the minister in charge of Islamic religious affairs during a press conference at Bangunan Perkim today.

He was asked to NONE comment about ostentatious weddings by national and state leaders to the extent of making a Malaysia Books Of Records entry.

On Sep 30, it was reported that the wedding celebration of Malacca Chief Minister Mohd Ali Rustam's son had broken the record with an attendance of 130,000 guests.

What raised eyebrows was the bill for the event, which was alleged to have exceeded RM600,000.

However, an indignant Ali Rustam blamed opposition parties for being jealous and said it was only his son’s wedding, boasting that it would have been a bigger even had it been his wedding.

The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has since responded to complaints and is said to be  probing the accounts and source of the funds used to pay for the mega event.

'Tabung Haji CEO's salary in order '

On another matter, when asked about Tabung Haji chief Ismee Ismail’s monthly salary exceeding RM85,000, Jamil Khir said he was not responsible for determining the quantum.

He said it was the National Wage Council that decided the Tabung CEO’s salary based on the service agreement.

“We pay wages based on professionalism, expertise and market rates.

“Therefore it’s not done just anyhow or secretly. It is based on the scheduled rates and the Tabung Haji’s regulations,” said the minister in Parliament.

Ismee’s salary was raised during the April parliamentary session when Pokok Sena MP Mahfuz Omar questioned an alleged transfer of over RM300,000 from Tabung Haji’s account to the CEO’s private account.

Tabung Haji has to date not elaborated on the matter beyond Deputy Finance Minister Donald Lim’s reply in Parliament that the transfer was “according to procedure”.