Tourism and Culture Minister Nazri Abdul Aziz came out in support of Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak's commitment to purchase Boeing jets from the United States, claiming that it is necessary for the country’s tourism industry.

In his recent trip to the US, Najib told President Donald Trump that Malaysia Airlines would buy 25 Boeing 737 jets and eight 787 Dreamliners, with a further 25 737s in the near future, in a deal reportedly worth more than US$10 billion over five years.

Nazri said that it would be a shame for Malaysia Airlines to operate an ageing fleet of aircraft.

"The prime minister went on a shopping spree buying aircraft. Everybody was upset with him. I supported him because it is very important to revamp Malaysia Airlines," he said when officiating a conference in Kuala Lumpur today...