Questions have been raised regarding eight Umno leaders tagging along with Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob to New York, USA, for the 77th session of the United Nations General Assembly (Unga).
According to a source, 10 party leaders were supposed to join the trip, including Umno vice-president Mohamed Khaled Nordin and Umno secretary-general Ahmad Maslan. However, the duo could not make the trip.
The eight others who joined Ismail Sabri were:
- Pahang Menteri Besar Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail
- Malacca state executive councillor in charge of Investment, Industry, Entrepreneur Development, and Cooperatives Ab Rauf Yusoh
- Umno information chief Shahril Sufian Hamdan
- Former Terengganu menteri besar Ahmad Said
- Tanjung Piai Umno chief Jefridin Atan
- Rompin MP Hasan Arifin
- Cameron Highlands MP Ramli Mohd Nor
- Kedah Umno deputy chief Othman Aziz
Their presence in New York was publicised by some of the leaders, including Wan Rosdy, Ab Rauf, and Jefridin on their respective social media accounts.
This has triggered speculations of discussions regarding the 15th general election (GE15) – which Ismail Sabri is being pressured to call soon by Umno’s senior leadership.
Clarify costs involved
Meanwhile, Amanah deputy president Salahuddin Ayub has asked the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) to shed light on the matter.
According to him, Putrajaya should clarify the costs involved for the entourage and the justification for having them on the trip.
“The PM’s Unga entourage in New York is said to number around 30 Umno leaders.
“They flew on a private jet. The PMO must officially answer regarding the cost of this Umno trip,” he said in a tweet.
Meanwhile, a government source confirmed to Malaysiakini the attendance of the Umno leadership on the New York trip but said the prime minister’s “guests” paid for their own travels. – Malaysiakini