Former UMNO leader Isham Jalil has firmly denied claims that he played an advisory role to former Prime Minister Najib Razak in the controversial 2017 Boeing aircraft negotiations with the United States. Reacting strongly to online accusations by supporters of the current administration, Isham announced plans to initiate legal action against those he says have defamed him, accusing them of linking him to a deal he insists he had no part in.
Isham, who once served as a special officer to Najib, emphasized that he was not involved in discussions related to the acquisition of 25 Boeing aircraft, nor did he travel with Najib to the US for the meeting with then-President Donald Trump. He clarified that what was signed during Najib’s US visit was merely a non-binding memorandum of understanding, not an actual purchase agreement.
According to him, the aircraft in question were not bought but instead leased through an international leasing firm. These details, he added, could be verified by the former CEO of Malaysia Airlines, reinforcing that Najib’s administration did not burden the country with the financial commitment critics suggest.
Turning his focus to the present, Isham highlighted what he views as a far more troubling development: the current government's decision to acquire 80 aircraft through Malaysia Aviation Group Bhd (MAG), a government-linked company. He criticized the move, pointing out that this purchase—finalized in stages starting in 2016 and expanded as recently as March 2024—comes with a debt load exceeding RM100 billion.
Isham questioned the logic behind doubling the national carrier’s fleet at a time when its profits have dwindled and the aviation sector remains unpredictable. While MAG had initially ordered 25 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft, an additional 30 were confirmed this year, with some observers speculating that this late addition may be intended to curry favor with the US by securing tariff reductions.
He expressed concern that such high-stakes financial decisions could ultimately hurt the public. With Malaysia Airlines' operational history marked by frequent losses, he warned that if this venture fails, it is ordinary Malaysians who may end up shouldering the consequences of the mounting national debt.
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