Nazri defends Rosmah, while Yen Yen thrown to the wolves

Ignoring signs of a changing environment signalled by the growing calls for an errant Tourism Minister to be sacked, Nazri Aziz stoutly defended his boss' wife Rosmah Mansor and her penchant for exorbitant overseas trips that critics say are little better than lavish shopping sprees.

Nazri, the minister in the Prime Minister's Department, said Rosmah's frequent presence at international conventions and seminars was something positive that "elevated" the country's image.

"Indirectly, she will also be able to shape international perception on the country's achievements in these fields," Bernama reported Nazri as saying. The minister was responding to a query raised in Parliament by the Libaran MP.

Flashy Rosmah

Indeed the 60-year old Rosmah, who’s two years older than Najib, has attracted controversy even before her husband took over the premiership. From her dressing to her hairstyle, her Ferragamo shoes to her handbags, she has been criticized as the aggressor in their relationship and the more cunning partner.

Her last trip to the Middle East sparked a furore, with the opposition demanding a full and detailed accounting of her expenses.

In the past two years, corporate figures hoping to secure lucrative government contracts have also been accused of illegally transmitting millions of ringgit to her via money changers for the alleged purpose of snapping up properties in London and elsewhere.

In one trip to Istanbul, Rosmah took along the wife of Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin, and Women's minister Shahrizat Jalil. Also in her immediate entourage were 15 members of the Association of Wives of Ministers and Deputy Ministers (Bakti) in the delegation.

When she returned, Parliament was abuzz with questions about the hefty bill the trip must have cost the government and ultimately, taxpayers . But Najib has always refused to divulge the costs.

'Silk Road wedding' and Ng Yen Yen

Just last week, both husband and wife were accused of abusing their power and timing a trip to Kazakhstan where their daughter was getting engaged to the son of a rich and powerful Kazakh official. This time, the PM and wife took a long a huge entourage of more than 200 members, sparking a public furore and accusations that they were little better than "freeloaders".

"Najib's daughter can get engaged whenever she wants. Najib and Rosmah can attend the engagement, take as many days leave as they wish or invite as many guests as they like. But don't use the people's money for this. Do you think Najib and Rosmah are poor? I stand by what I said, by using the people's money, he has no class," Kuala Selangor MP Dzulkefly Ahmad had told Malaysia Chronicle.

Other lawmakers also questioned if the Kazakhstan trip was specially arranged to fit in the wedding. They had pointed to a similar incident just a month ago, when Najib and his family visited the US on an official trip, but broke off midway to attend Nooryana's graduation.

"If we take to task Yen Yen for her outsize travelling bills and query Rosmah if she is really going on official officials to Dubai or just shopping sprees, this is even worst. It is very blatant abuse of power," Batu MP Tian Chua told Malaysia Chronicle.

He was referring to Tourism Minister Ng Yen Yen who has also been often accused of 'overbilling' her expenses. Yen Yen is now at the centre of another controversy and just a day ago was grilled in Parliament on how and why she could splurge RM1.8 million just to create 6 Facebook pages.

There are growing calls, even from the BN side, for her to be sacked if she could not offer a good reason.

Meanwhile, Nazri continued to defend Rosmah and also Bakti.

"We have seen that Bakti is well received and there is no bone of contention on its role now. Bakti is doing the same thing like before and there is no difference between then and now," said Nazri. - Malaysia Chronicle