Explain FLOM - First Lady OF Malaysia department

Hidden under the piles of divisions in the already bulky Prime Minister's Department is a new unit dedicated to the needs of the wife of the prime minister, Rosmah Mansor (pic).

The hitherto little known division, which bears the acronym FLOM (First Lady Of Malaysia) is listed under the online directory on the PM's Department's website.

The website, which shows its update date as December 30 last year, lists five officers under this FLOM, led by Siti Azizah Sheikh Abod as its special officer.

The website Keadilandaily said an officer in the division had confirmed the existence of Rosmah's own office in the country's most powerful department.

PKR Women's chief Zuraida Kamaruddin has demanded Najib Razak to explain the existence FLOM, questioning its legality.

“Najib should explain this division, and the establishment of this unit without going through the legal convention such as the parliament. Rosmah should not have an office in PMO,” she said, and reminded that by calling herself 'First Lady', Rosmah was clearly challenging the Raja Permaisuri who is the First Lady according to Constitution.

This is not the first time that Rosmah’s 'First Lady' title was being questioned.

The First Ladies' Summit organised by Rosmah last year had riled up a domestic controversy after several quarters said Rosmah violated the constitution by assuming the title 'First Lady'.

Prior to the First Ladies’ Summit, Rosmah was also the target of a public outrage after Najib announced an allocation of RM111 million in the country’s 2011 budget for Permata, a pre-school programme which Rosmah chairs.

- Harakahdaily