Rosmah rushes for a slice of Chong Wei's limelight

Rosmah Mansor, wife of the Malaysian Prime Minister, has been keeping a low profile.

The 'wild-spending' 'shopping-queen' has tried not to ruffle feathers after raising a ruckus with a string of doctorates controversially bestowed by several universities, and especially after the stink caused by an expose' in the US newspapers that alleged her soon-to-be son-in-law and his mother were international swindlers on Scotland Yard's most wanted list.

But the ever eager to be in the limelight Rosmah simply could not refuse to bask in the limelight of Malaysia's top shuttler Lee Chong Wei who fought like a tiger to down his opponent last night and enter the finals of the London Olympics 2012.

According to the New Straits Times, Rosmah will leave for London tonight to lend her support to Chong Wei. The shuttler will create history if he wins Malaysia's first-ever Olympics gold.

"We are not being calculative or petty but is it necessary to spend so much to go to London. Chong Wei knows the whole of Malaysia will be watching his every move on TV live telecast. He knows how much the whole nations wants him to win," Eddie Wong, a PKR veteran told Malaysia Chronicle.

"Rosmah is unnecessary, I fear she only wants in on the photo that will surely be hit the newspapers all around the world should he win. And should he falter, she will be there to console him and draw sympathy comments. I am not sure she can improve her profile with such opportunism."

Millions spent

Indeed, Rosmah and her husband Prime Minister Najib Razak have both been accused of abusing public money with their overly frequent trips abroad, using the government jet and inviting their friends to join their entourage.

They have also been criticized for scheduling their official visits with personal events such as attending the graduation ceremonies of their children and the high-profile engagement party of their daughter in Kazakhstan.

More than RM26 million or an average of RM620,000 a month has been spent by the government on the first couple's overseas trips since Najib came to power three-and-a-half years ago.

The figure was revealed in Parliament in June by Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Nazri Aziz in a written reply to DAP MP for Bukit Bendera Liew Chin Tong.

Since assuming office in April 2009, Najib and Rosmah have gone on 74 overseas trip with 1,108 accompanying officers. They travelled most frequent in 2011, with a total of 27 trips costing RM12 million in public funds. This year alone, RM5 million was spent on eight trips.

GO Chong Wei GO!

Meanwhile, Malaysia is assured of at least a silver medal Chong Wei powered his way into the singles final with a 21-13, 21-14 triumph over China’s Chen Long at the Wembley arena yesterday.

Chong Wei’s success in tonight's final against China’s Lin Dan is remarkable, considering that he had just come back from an ankle injury that sidelined him for six weeks.

In beating ChenLong,Chong Wei became the first Malaysian to reach the men’s singles final in two consecutive Olympics. He was runner-up to Lin Dan in the Beijing Games in 2008.

After having won the silver medal at the last Olympics, Chong Wei had said that he would not want to settle for the silver this time.

“The pressure I was under was immense and i told myself that this was the final as I didn’t want to have to psyche myself up for the third-place playoff, which would have been very difficult,” said Chong Wei.

Malaysia Chronicle