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Dr M: Even kings don't do weddings like Najib's family
Published:  Feb 16, 2016 6:00 PM
Updated: 11:18 AM

Former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad said even royalty do not hold weddings like the one held by Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak for his daughter.

"The wedding was extraordinary. Even the rajas had never done a wedding like this.

"The flowers alone were RM3 million. (The venue) was full of flowers," he said in a video interview uploaded on YouTube yesterday by blogger Din Turtle.

Mahathir was referring to the wedding reception of Najib's daughter Nooryana Najwa and son-in-law Daniyar Kessibayev at KLCC on March 28 last year.

Mahathir, who did not attend the reception, said he was informed of the lavishness by those who were present.

"There were even pictures (that were leaked). They put a sign asking people not to take pictures.

"They were afraid people would know about their lifestyle. Look at Najib's spending, it's really big.

"He jets around in an air plane, so does his wife (Rosmah Mansor), all these does not fit the lifestyle of a prime minister,' said Mahathir.

Rosmah's special officer Rizal Mansor had previous denied that any public money was used for Nooryana's wedding reception at KLCC, stating that the bill was footed by Daniyar's family.

Mahathir said he had personally witnessesed the lavishness of Najib's family when he attended Nooryana's engagement ceremony with Daniyar in 2011, when the former premier was still on good terms with them.

"I went for the engagement ceremony, I was shocked. There were 16 barrels which were carried by two soldiers.

"There were all kinds of things in them - watches, shoes, clothes, cloth - which passed by me.

"Where do they get the money to buy such things," he said.

Mahathir has repeatedly criticised Najib for allegedly living beyond his means.

The Prime Minister's Office in a statement to the New York Times February last year claimed Najib's wealth was from "inheritance".

However, Najib's four brothers in a joint statement the same month stressed their father, who was the third prime minister, lived a frugal life.

"We are extremely concerned that some recent news articles and postings have given rise to speculation as to the nature and extent of the inheritance that our late father, Abdul Razak, had left behind.

"We wish to put on record that Abdul Razak (right) was a highly-principled man, well known to allwho knew him for his frugality and utmost integrity and any statement or inference to the contrary would be totally false and misleading to his memory and to his service and sacrifices for the nation.

"We take issue with anyone who taints his memory, whatever the motive. We would also like to add that our whole family is united on this issue," they said.

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