A TALE OF TWO HOUSES ... UMNO vs PAS

Yet another fat budget: Renovation for PM's house

Harakahdaily

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 22: Bukit Bendera member of parliament Liew Chin Tong, fresh from exposing mistakes and misinformation in the just-tabled 2011 budget, has questioned the colossal allocation of RM65 million to renovate the Prime Minister’s official residence in Putrajaya. (Above): Since being built by Mahathir, every subsequent PM has spent a huge budget for its renovation. (Below): In stark contrast, Kelantan MB Nik Aziz Nik Mat shuns official luxury for his own house Seri Perdana, the sprawling complex completed 11 years ago at a cost of RM201 million at a time when the country faced its worst financial and political crisis, had already been renovated during the premiership of Abdullah Badawi, said Liew. The current cost of renovation under Najib Razak - a whopping RM65 million - was three times the figure spent by Abdullah. The revelation of the cost got an immediate response from former Perak chief minister Nizar Jamaluddin. “RM65 million to renovate Seri Perdana which Pak Lah just finished spending, is this a suggestion from RM," he asked, referring to the now-popular abbreviation to refer to Najib's wife, Rosmah Mansor. "What is Najib’s justification? Wastage in UMNO!” added the Bukit Gantang MP. On the maintenance of the residence, which was an idea of the fourth prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad, Liew revealed that the annual rental paid to Putrajaya Holdings including maintenance amounted to RM6 million, while for the annual cost for the deputy prime minister's residence stood at RM4 million. “PM’s residence – one should remember that Seri Perdana is just taxpayers funded home, not even offices in disguise of No 10 or White House,” reminded Liew. 23/10/10