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Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi kicked up a storm on Monday after ordering a new USD$50 million luxury jet despite a promise to rein in spending since he took office three years ago.

The Airbus A319, ordered by state leasing firm Penerbangan Malaysia, will be used by the prime minister, the king and other leaders, a source close to the deal said.

Delivery is set for July after it is fitted out in Switzerland, the source said. «The purchase was confirmed last year,» the source said. «It will join an existing VVIP fleet.»

The prime minister's office had no immediate comment. Abdullah returns home later on Monday after attending the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

«There's no justification for such acquisition,» parliamentary opposition leader Lim Kit Siang said. «It's most unfortunate the whole thing has been done without transparency and without coming to parliament for approval.»

Political analyst and former newspaper editor A. Kadir Jasin said: «The corporate jet will punch a USD$50 million hole in our pocket. That's a big hole... which can build a lot of classrooms, hospital wards and not to mention mosques and rural roads for the people.»

(Reuters)