Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad said that the government will only bring back the Bombardier Global 5000 jet if it was worthwhile.
“I don’t know whether it is worth taking back now. The plane cannot be flown now,” he told reporters today.
“If it is worthwhile we’ll bring it back.”
A US federal court has given the green light for a formal bidding process to sell the jet, based on an agreement between the Department of Justice (DoJ) and Global One Aviation (Global 5000) Ltd.
The US$35 million jet has been parked at the Seletar Airport in Singapore since it was impounded by Singaporean authorities in 2017.
It was named by the DoJ as part of some US$1 billion in assets allegedly acquired with funds misappropriated from state investment arm 1MDB.
At the press conference today, Mahathir also commented on other matters, including on calling Swiss whistleblower Xavier Justo as a witness at trials linked to the 1MDB scandal.
“I think if you can give some evidence that are relevant you will be welcomed,” he said.
He was also asked about the move to allow political parties to form chapters in universities
“You are (already) free to talk as you like. There’s no need for parties,” he said.
Education Minister Maszlee Malik had recently said that amendments to the Universities and University Colleges Act 1971 (AUKU) would include allowing political parties to set up branches in public universities, in line with the move to lower the voting age to 18.