Prime Minister's Department aide Rizal Mansor today denied claims on the social media that Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak’s plane was barred from landing in Johor by the state's sultan.
Calling it a slander, Rizal said the claim was aimed at smearing Najib's reputation.
The claim first emerged after Najib was photographed arriving for the Pasir Gudang Umno division meeting in a vehicle with a Singapore car plate number.
"The prime minister of Malaysia is forced to go to Johor through Singapore and travel using Singaporean vehicles as he was not allowed to land in Senai Airport and no facilities was provided by the state government on orders of the Johor sultan," says the widely circulated message on the social media.
Rizal ( photo ) said Najib was on official duty in Singapore and had briefly crossed back into Johor for an Umno function.
"Najib was already scheduled to go to Singapore on the republic's invitation for its National Day.
"The vehicle used by Najib was provided by the Singapore government (for Najib) to re-enter Johor to officiate the Umno Pasir Gudang division annual general meeting.
"He then returned to Singapore for an official function there," Rizal said in a Facebook posting.
The matter was similarly denied by the press secretary to the Johor menteri besar, Asri Khalbi, who called it an attempt to sour relations between the federal government, state government and the Johor palace.
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