Deputy Home Minister Nur Jazlan Mohamed has defended Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak for using a government jet for his family's year-end vacation to several destinations across Australia.

He said many were unaware that Najib, in his capacity as prime minister, is entitled to use the Malaysian government's Airbus Corporate Jet A319.

"It is within his full rights to use the entitlement that he has in his capacity as prime minister," he told Malaysiakini in an interview today.

The Pulai MP noted while it would have been better for Najib to make his own personal arrangements, there were other issues which must be considered.

"Sometimes for security purposes and to keep the entourage as one, maybe it is better for him (Najib) to use his facilities as prime minister to deal with the transportation required for his vacation," he said.

Pressed for comments on public criticisms against Najib's use of the official jet for a personal vacation, Nur Jazlan replied: "Yes. Yes. Yes. (People are unaware). The point is: prime minister uses the jet.”

"The prime minister uses the jet for his holiday. That is well within his entitled rights.

"Whether that is politically sensitive or not, to me that is a separate issue. But he is entitled to use the jet as the prime minister," he added.

The government’s Airbus Corporate Jet A319, bearing the registration number 9M-NAA, took off from the Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah airport in Subang Jaya on Dec 22 at 12.07am and landed in Gold Coast, Australia at 10.06am the same day.

However, the stop was brief as the aircraft took off from Gold Coast at 11.47am and landed in Brisbane at 12.09pm. The plane remained in Brisbane for four days.

On Dec 26, the Malaysian government jet took off from Brisbane at 9.11am and landed in Gold Coast at 9.35am.

Again, the stopover at Gold Coast was brief, lasting only two hours and 47 minutes.

The plane then departed Gold Coast at 12.22pm and arrived at the Perth International Airport at 2.47pm.

The aircraft has remained there as of Dec 31.

The issue was first highlighted after Najib’s son Mohd Norashman Najib began posting pictures from Gold Coast and later Perth on Instagram. 

All flight data were based on flight tracking site Flight Aware.

Meanwhile, Cheras Umno chief Syed Ali Alhabshee said Najib deserved a holiday.

"Why are people angry when they find out that Najib went on holiday with his family when holidays are something normal.

"Did anyone ask or express sympathy towards Najib who works day and night thinking of how to make the people prosper, as well as the future of the Malays?" he asked in a blog posting.

Malaysiakini had previously highlighted how leaders of other countries and their family travel on government jets.