Skip to main content

Advertisement

Advertisement

So what if I didn't stay at Blair House during US trip?: Najib

KUALA LUMPUR — Malaysia Prime Minister Najib Razak brushed off the fact that he did not stay in Blair House last month during his US trip, asserting that he was still invited for a round of golf by US President Donald Trump.

US President Donald Trump greets Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak outside of the West Wing of the White House. AFP file photo

US President Donald Trump greets Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak outside of the West Wing of the White House. AFP file photo

Follow TODAY on WhatsApp

KUALA LUMPUR — Malaysia Prime Minister Najib Razak brushed off the fact that he did not stay in Blair House last month during his US trip, asserting that he was still invited for a round of golf by US President Donald Trump.

He refuted allegations that his trip was not welcomed by Mr Trump, pointing out that the fact the US president walked him to his car was evidence of strong diplomatic ties between both countries.

"Even though I did not stay at the Blair House but I had an invite to play golf with Trump. Trump also walked me to my car. We still get the highest honour from the US administration," Mr Najib said Monday (Oct 30) in Parliament.

The premier was responding to a question from Opposition leader Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, who asked why had Mr Najib stayed in Trump Hotel last month when neighbouring Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong was invited to stay at Blair House earlier this month.

Mr Najib also added that he did not fund way his way to meet to the US president unlike his predecessor, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and the trip was an official trip paid by Putrajaya.

"My invitation to meet Trump was on official government business. I did not pay anything for the invite. My predecessor had to do several things to get an invite from Bush, I do not practice that," he said.

It has been alleged that when Dr Mahathir was PM, he had to lobby his way and pay off several parties to arrange a meeting with the then US president George W Bush.

Mr Najib also said in Parliament that Malaysia is reviewing its ties with North Korea and that Putrajaya is prepared to cut all ties with Pyongyang in the light of the reclusive state’s nuclear and missile tests.

He said the position was adopted after consulting with Mr Trump during the visit last month and following the murder of Mr Kim Jong-nam, the estranged brother of North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un.

“I have stated that Malaysia has taken all steps to abide by all United Nation resolutions relating to the North Korean threat, including the reduction of Korean diplomatic officers in Malaysia.

“We are considering our bonds with North Korea including cutting political and economic relations. Malaysia is considering closing our embassy in Pyongyang and moving it to Beijing,” Mr Najib noted.

Mr Najib also said in Parliament that Malaysia will consider a free trade agreement (FTA) with the US should the 11-member Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA) not come to pass.

"In respect of the TPPA, the Malaysian delegation and I had a dialogue with members of the US Congress and urged them to stick with the TPPA members to make the agreement a success,” the prime minister said in response to a question on his US visit.

"If it does not materialise, I have proposed that the TPPA model be incorporated into a bilateral agreement such as a FTA which has been postponed since 2008,” Mr Najib added. AGENCIES

Read more of the latest in

Advertisement

Advertisement

Stay in the know. Anytime. Anywhere.

Subscribe to get daily news updates, insights and must reads delivered straight to your inbox.

By clicking subscribe, I agree for my personal data to be used to send me TODAY newsletters, promotional offers and for research and analysis.