In a Facebook post, Sharifah Khasif Fadzilah Syed Badiuzzaman said claims of a RM33,400 hourly fee for the classes were false.
She said the classes were an optional service offered for free to clients of Elite Jets Sdn Bhd.
“The amount of RM33,400 per hour is not fees for studying, but it is the rate for a private jets’ flight,” she said, adding this was listed on Elite Jets’ website.
“That is why I say, how many know about private jets? We are shocked when we hear about the value of a jet. We don’t know the operating costs per hour of a jet where it can cost US$5,000 for fuel, permit, insurance and maintenance.”
Sharifah said studying the Quran in a private jet was a new approach and that most of those who took up the classes were VVIPs, royalty and successful entrepreneurs from Malaysia and abroad.
“I appreciate the views of netizens, whether these are positive or negative comments, but don’t resort to slander and shame people with untruths.”
Previously, Sharifah’s manager Haryati Mohd Taha told FMT that there was a demand for the Quran classes in a private jet with almost 100 enquiries received from interested parties.
The initiative has received some flak on social media, with some critics saying Sharifah and Elite Jets were using religion to make money.
But Haryati said the criticism was unfounded because Sharifah, who is a national Quran reciter, also provided lessons for middle-income and lower-middle-income groups. These lessons are conducted at her office in Ampang.