The operations, maintenance and management (OMM) costs for the prime minister's new Airbus ACJ320 jet will cost taxpayers RM46 million a year, or RM690 million for 15 years.

This claim was made by PKR vice-president and secretary-general Rafizi Ramli at the Parliament lobby today.

"If we include the seven-year OMM cost for the old ACJ319 jet, then the total OMM cost for both jets is RM1.098 billion," Rafizi told a press conference.

Over the past two weeks, Rafizi has been slowly revealing information about Putrajaya's new airplane, which he claimed would cost taxpayers RM465 million over 15 years.

He also claimed that the Putrajaya would spend another RM28 million to refurbish the cabin, although the interior already looks like a posh hotel.

Thus far, Putrajaya has not rebutted the figures touted by Rafizi.

However, one BN backbencher, Abdul Azeez Abdul Rahim, has defended the decision to buy the new plane, on grounds it will reduce the aircraft maintenance cost and ensure safety of the country's leaders when they travel.

The purchase of the luxury plane comes at a time when cost of living is soaring, compounded with the fact that goods and services tax (GST) comes into effect from tomorrow.