GE14 | The government has ordered an immediate investigation into claims made by Pakatan Harapan chairperson Dr Mahathir Mohamad that the private jet that was to take him to Langkawi earlier today might have been sabotaged.

Caretaker transport minister Liow Tiong Lai said that the Civil Aviation Department has been ordered to investigate the matter.

“This is a serious claim, we take it seriously. At the same time, we hope this is also not a political stunt. This is not a matter to be used for political exploitation,” he said in a statement today.

Liow said the captain and the owner of the private jet will be asked to give their statements.

“This is a serious matter regarding aviation safety and we do not want anyone to have any doubts on our standards and compliance,” he said.

So far there has been no report made by the pilot, he added.

Mahathir claimed that the pilot of the plane that he had boarded cancelled the flight just before takeoff after detecting some damage. Immediate repairs could not be made.

"It was lucky that we knew earlier or else the aircraft might have taken off and crashed," Mahathir said in his speech in Langkawi, after arriving on another flight.

"I think this was planned by someone. It has never happened before,” he added.

Mahathir is in Langkawi for the 14th general election nomination day tomorrow, where he will be contesting the Langkawi parliamentary seat under the opposition banner.

- Bernama