The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) must publish the passenger manifest for the official jet which traipsed around three continents in the last weeks, PKR Youth said.

Its information chief Lee Chean Cheung says Malaysians deserve to know given that fuel costs alone could buy an estimated 247 tonnes of rice for flood victims.

This is about half of the 500 tonnes of rice Thailand donated, for which Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak had to fly to Bangkok to say thank you, Lee said.

"We would have enough to help all flood victims if the BN government’s spendthrift nature is curbed," the Semambu assemblyperson said.

Lee said, Najib must also break his silence and respond to a Bangkok Post report that Najib’s visit was not official and that he went there to rest, shop and play golf with his wife.

“Najib has yet to address the uncertainties surrounding the official jet which travelled across the United States due to technical problems, this Bangkok Post report makes Malaysia a laughing stock,” he said.

“We urge Najib to deny the Bangkok Post report because this affects our image. He needs to explain why exactly he visited Thailand.”

Second time golfing abroad

This is the second time Najib is reported to be golfing abroad when more than 100,000 people grapple with the worst floods for decades and the aftermath at home.

He tweeted that he was in Bangkok to thank Thai PM General Prayut, but a source close to the general said the meeting was not official and the 90-minute talk was informal.

He also urged the PMO to explain why a technical issue caused the jet, which call sign is 9M-NAA, to have to make so many stops.

The jet was tracked landing in Indianapolis, Los Angeles, New York, London, Dubai and Bangkok before returning to Malaysia on Sunday.

Najib had his family flew to Hawaii on Dec 20 for the PM’s year-end holiday but Najib returned on a commercial flight on Dec 27.

Najib reportedly golfed with United States President Barack Obama on boxing day, but flew home amid flak over his absence during worsening floods.

PMO clarified that the jet did not stay in the US to ferry his family but due to technical issues.

Indianapolis is where Comlux, a company contracted to maintain the jet, is based. Comlux did not respond to Malaysiakini’s query.

Thai paper: Bangkok trip was for golf, shopping