Khairuddin also blamed ‘socialist groups’ for the accusations, but did not elaborate. ― Picture by Saw Siow Feng

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 22 — Under fire for gifting his wife a luxury Audi Q7 sports utility vehicle (SUV), PAS MP Datuk Dr Khairuddin Aman Razali said today he has a right to buy it since he could afford it.

Khairuddin, the information chief for the Islamist party’s Ulama wing, claimed that the purchase of the luxury car was a petty issue that got blown out of proportion to distract from PAS’ proposal to allow Shariah courts to sentence harsher punishments.

“This is a petty issue. I have a right to buy anything I want. I could even buy a lorry or a plane, it is none of their business,” Khairuddin was quoted as saying by The Star Online.

“I bought the car using legitimate sources and I could afford it,” the Kuala Nerus MP added.

Khairuddin also blamed “socialist groups” for the accusations, but did not elaborate.

The issue cropped up after a Facebook post by one Datin Norhayati Abd Malek, believed to be Khairuddin’s wife, announcing her new car as given to her by her husband. The post has since been deleted.

It is unsure whether the luxury SUV was brand new or bought second hand. Her photo had shown an older generation of the Q7 model.

The current generation of Q7 sells from RM524,000.