Hornery twits Rosmah: She wasn't buying T-shirts

The Sydney Morning Herald (SMH) columnist Andrew Hornery stood by his report that Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak's wife Rosmah Mansor's spent lavishly on designer Carl Kapp's clothing during a private holiday in the city.

"Kapp said she ordered 61 garments. Said it was a "massive" order. His stuff is expensive. She wasn't buying Tshirts," retorted Hornery on Twitter yesterday.

In replying to other users, Hornery (left)maintained that his source is "rock solid", insisting and that Rosmah's purchase amounted to aconsiderable sum.

After having courted plenty of notoriety for his reports on Rosmah's 'lavish' spending on designer wear, Hornery added that he intends to stay away from Malaysian shores.

"I won't be holidaying in Malaysia anytime soon. I've been hung, drawn and quartered in print there.

"Shoot the messenger when the truth hurts?" said the prominent lifestyle columnist on Twitter.

"Kapp said she ordered 61 garments. Said it was a "massive" order. His stuff is expensive. She wasn't buying Tshirts," he retorted.

Yes, no, ping pong game

Last week, Hornery in his 'Private Sydney' column said that Rosmah had spent A$100,000 (approximately RM325,000) on 61 outfits at designer Carl Kapp's boutique in the city, during the couple's private holiday.

This was dismissed by Rosmah as a "wildly exaggerated" claim, telling Malaysiakini on Monday that she has "always been the victim".

Kapp had later issued a statement that Rosmah did shop at his boutique but denied ever saying that she spent A$100,000.

In his statement to Malaysiakini, Kapp (right) said that Rosmah and her "sizeable group" during the visit "made various purchases".

The A$100,000 calculated by fashion blogger Frockwriter, on Jan 17, who was first to report the matter.

"Based on the average prices in his collection - which start at A$400 (RM1,290) and reach several thousand dollars, Frockwriter estimates it could be approaching A$100,000. Kapp was paid upfront," blogger Patty Huntingon had written.

Hornery, who then picked up the story, interviewed Kapp and the Malaysian High Commission to verify facts before calling Rosmah "first lady of shopping" in his Saturday column.

Hornery has since become a target for pro-Umno bloggers going all out to smear his character with provoking statements on hissexuality.

Nevertheless, Hornery told his Twitter followers that because of Rosmah's popularity he would be dishing out more in "an exclusive follow up" in Private Sydney column tomorrow.

"In honour of tomorrow's column I think it is fitting I have a very spicy Laksa for lunch as a tribute to my new friends in Malaysia. Enjoy!" Hornery twitted this morning.