SHAH ALAM, 25 Feb: The Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Mohd Najib Razak, has been describes as one of five world leaders who spend lavishly, according to a report on the Indonesian www.merdeka.com portal.
The portal wrote that The Heat weekly newspaper in Malaysia in November last year published a report on the extravagant spending on overseas trips by Najib and as much as Rp2.5 trillion for payments to his private board of consultants.
Merdeka.com placed Najib Razak on par with the President of Zimbabwe, Robert Mugabe, who reportedly will be celebrating his 90th birthday at a cost of Rp11.8 billion.
Next is the former Italian Prime Minister, Silvio Berlusconi, who once spent Rp48.5 billion on a gift for a female artist and a television show he liked in 2011.
Berlusconi also recorded a purchase of jewelry worth Rp5.8 billion to be given as gifts.
Also listed is the North Korean leader, Kim Jong-un, whose hobby is shopping for luxury goods, including pianos, cars and a private theatre.
A 374-page report by the United Nations detailed Kim Jong-un’s spending on luxury items, reaching Rp8.4 trillion a year, more than double that of his father, Rp3.9 trillion a year.
Also reported spending lavishly is the Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, who reportedly spent Rp294.2 billion on scented candles and flowers to decorate his office.
