Isham Jalil threatens to sue Madani cytros for defaming him as Najib's adviser to acquire 25 Boeing planes

Focus Malaysia

5 days ago

FORMER UMNO supreme council member Isham Jalil is on the look-out for lawyers who would assist him to draft letters of demand (LOD) for Madani cybertroopers who accused him of acting as an adviser to incarcerated former premier Datuk Seri Najib Razak in his 2017 negotiation with Donald Trump who was the then US president.
Isham who was once a special officer to Najib claimed that the cybertroopers had slandered him given he was 'never directly involved in the Boeing acquisition negotiations nor was he part of Najib's delegation to the US'.
'I like it when PH (Pakatan Harapan) politicians and their 20-sen walanon gang (hardcore PMX supporters) do this kind of work. Because I have the opportunity to sue them and make millions,' he penned on his Facebook page. 'When I win the suit, I will buy a motorbike.'
Setting the record straight, Isham clarified that Najib did not buy the 25 Boeing planes as claimed by detractors but in fact, he had 'signed a non-binding MOU (memorandum of understanding' instead.
'We didn't buy but leased 16 from the international leasing firm that bought the aircraft with terms depending on the current market conditions,' revealed the former UMNO information chief who was expelled from the party on Dec 7, 2023 for opposing the party's collaborations with DAP in elections.
'The then Malaysia Airlines CEO can confirm this.'
Isham who has in recent times become a harsh critic of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim further took a swipe at the Madani government 'for directly buying 80 aircraft through government-linked company (GLC) Malaysia Aviation Group Bhd (MAG) by incurring a debt exceeding RM100 bil'.'
For the record, MAG had in 2016 placed an initial order for 25 Boeing 737-8 MAX aircraft with 13 planes having been received since November 2023 while the remainder are to be delivered progressively until 2027.
However, MAG had on March 20 this year finalised an additional order for 30 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft with deliveries expected to take place from 2025 to 2035, according to Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz.
Although only 30 planes were originally planned, critics believe that the recent order for another 30 appear to be a last-minute add-on which is likely to please Washington in order to unlock tariff relief from 25% to 19% – a dangerous precedent where strategic assets are used for political appeasement.
'The current total fleet of MAS is approximately 80 aircraft with many years left before the expiration date,' he justified.
'You want to buy twice as many aircraft and double the fleet size with hundreds of billions in debt even though your profit has dropped to only RM54 mil?'
Added Isham' Our airline's record is not good and always loses. Moreover, the aviation industry is both instable and full of risks.
'And yet you still want to take on debts amounting to more than 10% of the country's total accumulated debt because you want to buy 80 more aircraft?
'If your investment or 'gamble' turns awry, who will bear these hundreds of billions in debt? It'll be the rakyat who eventually suffer.' – Aug 5, 2025