The problem is you, Rosmah

Nevertheless, should Rosmah have gone to London? Never mind that earlier Patrons had also gone overseas to give Malaysia’s players moral support. And what many people are asking is: who paid for that trip? Of course, everyone is assuming that the government paid for it. Which then raises the question of whether it is morally right for the taxpayers’ to pay for that trip.

NO HOLDS BARRED

Raja Petra Kamarudin

Rosmah Mansor, the wife of Malaysia’s Prime Minister, a.k.a. the First Lady of Malaysia, decided to go to London to offer Lee Chong Wei moral support. Unfortunately, he failed to win the gold medal and had to settle for silver.

We would, of course, expect the Patron of the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) to go to London to give Malaysia’s player moral support. I mean it is not like Malaysia has won or is going to win so many gold medals. Hence our only shot at a gold medal should receive support not only from the government but from all Malaysians as well.

Unfortunately, the Patron of BAM happens to be Rosmah. Hence her trip to London is being condemned, not because she is the Patron of BAM, but because she is Rosmah Mansor. It is okay if the Patron of BAM goes to London as long as it is not Rosmah.

I admit that I was a bit cheeky when I heard that Rosmah was going to London. I told my wife, “There goes Malaysia’s gold medal. Looks like we are not going to win now.”

When Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad was Malaysia’s Prime Minister from 1981 to 2003, Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Mohamad Ali was the Patron of BAM. But then Malaysians did not hate Dr Siti Hasmah. Even those who hated Dr Mahathir did not hate Dr Siti Hasmah. Many, in fact, had high regards and loads of respect for Dr Siti Hasmah. They still do. While they may curse Dr Mahathir and pray for him to suffer a terrible death, they do not do the same to Dr Siti Hasmah.

Nevertheless, should Rosmah have gone to London? Never mind that earlier Patrons had also gone overseas to give Malaysia’s players moral support. And what many people are asking is: who paid for that trip? Of course, everyone is assuming that the government paid for it. Which then raises the question of whether it is morally right for the taxpayers’ to pay for that trip.

I suppose the issue here is Rosmah. People hate her so they need to whack her. And her trip to London is a good issue to bring up. Even if Lee Chong Wei had won gold she would still have been whacked, mainly because she is Rosmah. It makes it even better when Lee Chong Wei did not win gold.

If Dr Siti Hasmah had remained the Patron of BAM then no one would have been angry about her going to London. Some still would, of course, mainly because she is Dr Mahathir’s wife. But most wouldn’t. If someone other than Rosmah or Dr Siti Hasmah were the Patron of BAM then the trip to London would have been a non-issue.

Najib Tun Razak should understand by now that the anger towards his wife is very strong and the less her name pops up in the news the better. And don’t think that if Lee Chong Wei had won gold it would have been any different. The issue here is not whether Lee Chong Wei won gold or silver but that it is Rosmah who went to London.

Pro-PKR portals like Malaysia Chronicle attribute Lee Chong Wei’s failure to win gold as Rosmah’s failure. “TOP CHEERLEADER ROSMAH FAILS! Olympic dream eludes Chong Wei,” screamed Malaysia Chronicle. I suppose if Lee Chong Wei had won gold then the headline would have been…hmm…I wonder what the headline would have been. Got to find out from Tian Chua.

I also have to ask Lee Chong Wei whether his failure to win gold was because Rosmah stressed him out, as what some people are saying. Then we can blame Rosmah for China’s win, as I don’t believe that China’s badminton players are better than Malaysia’s. I mean how can China, a country with a population of more than 1.3 billion, produce better players than Malaysia, a country with a population of only 28 million?

Anyway, we did win silver and I would rather be happy with what we won than get upset about what we lost, never mind if it is Rosmah’s fault.

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Hero's welcome for Chong Wei, says Razali

(The Star) - Datuk Lee Chong Wei will be given a hero's welcome when he returns home on Tuesday.

Deputy Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Razali Ibrahim said despite losing to Lin Dan in Sunday's final, Chong Wei showed great determination in the game.

"He showed determination in fighting for the gold medal in the prestigious event. This is something every Malaysian look forward to," he said.

Chong Wei settled for the silver medal when he lost 21-15, 10-21, 19-21 in a keenly contested game.

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TOP CHEERLEADER ROSMAH FAILS! Olympic dream eludes Chong Wei

(Malaysia Chronicle) - It was a disappointed Malaysia that watched China's Lin Dan deliver the final killing shot to beat local hero Lee Chong Wei for the Olympic badminton gold medal.

But sad though Malaysians were, few were angry with the 29-year-old Chong Wei because it was clear he tried his best. Lin Dan was in top form, using his superior height, strength and thunderbolt smashes to win in 3 sets 15-21. 21-10 and 21-19.

Rosmah - Good luck girl or Bad luck girl?

As for Rosmah Mansor, the Prime Minister's wife who controversially flew over to London the night before to cheer on Chong Wei, many political watchers could not help but wonder - was it her fault that Chong Wei lost?

Did she add to the already pressure cooker-like atmosphere in the Malaysian badminton camp?

In all fairness, that may be unlikely given that Chong Wei is a seasoned professional used to intense international competition. Yet even Rosmah herself suggested that Lady Luck played a deciding factor in the game.

"All badminton fans should be satisfied and not disappointed because Chong Wei has given his best performance. It's just that Lin Dan is a bit luckier," Rosmah told the Malaysian media at the Wembley Arena.

However, even if Chong Wei had won, Rosmah would still face a grilling when she returns from London. After all, her trip was deemed unnecessary and the costs for it should not be passed onto taxpayers.

"If it had been at her own expense, then that's up to her as long as she didn't add to Chong Wei's stress. If it was on public money and given the historical records of her habits of being a 'free-loader', she should be more circumspect," PAS MP for Kuala Selangor Dzulkefly Ahmad told Malaysia Chronicle.