KUALA KANGSAR: The cargo compartment of the jet used by the prime minister’s wife, Rosmah Mansor, for a trip to Turkey on May 27 had been modified for a long-haul flight, revealed her aide, Rizal Mansor.

In a Facebook post, Rizal responded to PKR Secretary-General Rafizi Ramli’s “expose” today in which the Pandan MP showed reporters a video of Rosmah boarding the jet, surrounded by a number of officers carrying bags.

Rizal explained that the entourage’s luggage did not go into the cargo compartment as it had been modified to fit a larger fuel tank.

Furthermore, he said the remaining cargo space was used to bring the costumes and instruments of the Permata Seni performance art group, which was invited to perform in Instanbul.

Rosmah had gone to Istanbul to attend the Global Good Governance Award 2016 and to accept the 3G Children Welfare Award on behalf of Permata Negara.

“I take it that Rafizi has never boarded a commercial aeroplane, let alone an executive aeroplane.

“He can check the meaning of the term ‘ACT’, which stands for ‘additional centre tank’ with his ‘friends’ in the aviation industry.”

Rizal said Rafizi was trying to cover his mistake in calculating the “flying hours” of the PM’s wife’s entourage and was now talking about the number of bags brought on board by Rosmah’s entourage.

Rafizi’s “expose” today follows his earlier allegations that Rosmah used a private jet rented by the government to attend the event in Instanbul.

Rizal had defended the use of the private jet due to Rosmah’s packed schedule. The plane was also used by dignitaries like the King and Queen.

Meanwhile, Rosmah, who visited the Kuala Kangsar Hospital today, did not respond to queries from the media.