DPM's new in law reiterates that daughter's recent wedding reception in Jakarta was 100% borne by him.

Zahid's in-law says Jakarta reception fully paid by him

BY T AVINESHWARAN

THE STAR

Ahmad Zahid

 

PETALING JAYA: Datuk Seri Chairul Anhar, the new in-law of Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, said his daughter's recent wedding reception in Jakarta was 100% borne by him.

He said the reception was held on Sept 19 "to follow" Dr Ahmad Zahid's busy work schedule as the latter was making an official visit to Indonesia.

Chairul, who is president of Indonesian Diaspora Network Chapter Malaysia, said the reception at Ritz Carlton in Jakarta was for his daughter, whereas the reception for Ahmad Zahid’s son in Kuala Lumpur was on Sept 27.

“As a businessman for 20 years, I have many business partners in Malaysia and Indonesia. For sure I have many friends. All the guests who came from Indonesia and Malaysia were invited by me.

“Again I would like to reiterate that the event is from the bride’s side and not my in-law’s reception," Chairul said.

Chairil said the bride's side held the reception on Sept 19 to follow Dr Ahmad Zahid’s schedule because of his busy 'national work' as the Deputy Prime Minister and he did not want to take special leave for the reception.

“Do not slander my in-law. Those who utter this heinous slander to my in-law, Zahid, I pray to Allah that their cardinal sin is forgiven,” he said.

Chairul also hoped that the union between his daughter and Zahid’s son would benefit Malaysia and Indonesia.

Dr Ahmad Zahid, who made an official visit to Jakarta from Sept 18 to 21, had said he did not spend a single sen for his son’s wedding reception in Jakarta on Sept 19.

He said his daughter-in-law’s family, upon knowing that he would be in Jakarta for an official visit around that time, had decided to host a reception for the newly weds.

“I didn’t spend money to organise the reception. I didn’t spend money for ministers and guests from Malaysia to attend the wedding. I didn’t spend money to entertain anyone because the function was not mine,”  he said.

He was responding to a posting made by blogger Shahbudin Husin, who questioned the timing of the visit, "which coincided with the wedding reception of his son and an Indonesian woman."