US President Donald Trump welcomes Malaysia's Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak to the White House in Washington September 13, 2017. — Reuters pic
US President Donald Trump welcomes Malaysia's Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak to the White House in Washington September 13, 2017. — Reuters pic

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 30 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak brushed off the fact that he did not stay in Blair House last month during his US trip, asserting that he was still invited for a round of golf by US President Donald Trump.

He refuted allegations that his trip was not welcomed by Trump, pointing out that the fact the US president walked him to his car was evident of strong diplomatic ties between both countries.

“Even though I did not stay at the Blair House but I had an invite to play golf with Trump. Trump also walked me to my car. We still get the highest honour from the US administration,” Najib said today in Parliament.

The premier was responding to a question from Opposition leader Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, who asked why had Najib stayed in Trump Hotel last month when neighbouring Singapore’s Lee Hsien Loong was invited to stay at Blair House earlier this month.

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Najib also added that he did not fund way his way to meet to the US president unlike his predecessor, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and the trip was an official trip paid by Putrajaya.

“My invitation to meet Trump was on official government business. I did not pay anything for the invite. My predecessor had to do several things to get an invite from Bush, I do not practice that,” he said.

It has been alleged that when Dr Mahathir was PM he had to lobby his way and pay off several parties to arrange a meeting with the then US president George W Bush.

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