Its corporate communications division secretary, Tengku Nasaruddin Tengku Mohamed, said a report on the matter that went viral on social media was totally inaccurate and confusing.
“The Malaysian Parliament never spends luxuriously for such a purpose.
“Our expenditure is done according to the stipulated financial procedures.
“The entitlement rate for the event is RM120 per person, but Parliament only approved an allocation of RM50 per person for that purpose.
“Hence, the total cost of the meal for eight guests at the main table was RM400,” he said in a statement here today.
Tengku Nasaruddin said the wagyu beef dish was an additional dish served only to eight guests at the VVIP table and it was on the house from the caterer to celebrate the appointment of the Dewan Rakyat speaker and was not ordered by the management of the Malaysian Parliament.
“The Malaysian Parliament regrets the spread of information about the luncheon as it was totally inaccurate.
“We also hope that this issue will not be further sensationalised to protect the image of the Malaysian Parliament as the highest legislative authority in the country,” he added.