If Rosmah can be famous, but at taxpayers' expense

YOURSAY 'Biographies are written for very famous people who have done great deeds for humankind, and is usually not written by oneself.'

Rosmah has right to have high profile: Dr M

LittleGiant: Going by protocol, the prime minister's wife has the right to have a high profile. But it is not right of Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad to say that Rosmah Mansor can enjoy as high a profile "as she likes".

Being the prime minister's wife already provides her enough prominence. It is not necessary to seek more prominence and definitely not at the expense of the taxpayers' funds.

Dood: She can be as prominent as she wants, yes, but please do it at her own expense. Her position as the prime minister's wife is not an official government position and, as such, should not be borne by taxpayers.

Blind Freddo: Nobody deserves to have a high profile. One has to earn that privilege.

I wonder if any truly high-profile person actually worries about the need to rebut their criticisms, or is it only insecure people who desperately need do feel important.

You don't hear about Queen Elizabeth II or Michelle Obama facing off their critics.

Ferdtan: Just let her be. Let Rosmah get all the limelight she craves. She is entitled to her fat ego.

One thing is for sure - she is unwittingly an "asset" to Pakatan Rakyat in the fight for the support of the rural Muslims in this coming general election.

Whether you agree or not, it is a fact; that Muslims in remote areas don't quite condone a wife to overshadow her husband, especially she is not holding any official post.

In history, women brought the downfall of empires - this time in Malaysia, perhaps a woman by the name of Rosmah can have the honour.

Victor Johan: I love this. Now Rosmah gets her biographylaunched and this only further allow the concerned rakyat to question those ambiguous details in her previous life that were omitted intentionally or otherwise.

Among them are whether her divorce from her earlier husband to marry Najib Razak was 'sah dari rukun Islam', who her earlier husband really is and where they met.

And why her boy and girl from her earlier marriage despise her and want nothing to do with her.

I can't wait for the book.

Gggg: It is rare to see Mahathir to be so supportive and full of praises. It looks like Rosmah will be a better PM than Najib.

Multi Racial: I'm surprise to hear how far Mahathir is willing to go to support Rosmah. In any case, neither Najib nor Rosmah were the people's choice to be prime minister. So both can't claim to be one.

Onyourtoes: You are wrong again, Mahathir. The people did not make all kinds of accusations at their whims and fancies.

Rosmah must cogently and pointedly prove that those accusations or allegations are false or malicious.

By the way, why wait for so long before trying to clear her name through a biography. She is the wife of a very active politician. I don't think a biography is the right vehicle to answer allegations.

First, it is like giving your own version of the stories without having to directly answering them.

Second, having given your own version, you don't give others the opportunity to challenge or rebut what was contained in it.

Thana55: If I was a Pakatan strategist, I will just use the headline photo of this Malaysiakini news report for the 13^th general election (GE13) campaign, which so compellingly sums up the arrogance of Umno.

Bumiasli: Anybody and everybody, has a right to be high profile provided the recognition is given by the public or reputable organisations.

A PM's wife automatically gets to be high profile only out of respect for the country her husband is serving, not on her own personal merits. This is the general practice by all nations worldwide.

However, no PM's wife should take full credit and exercise her popularity by abusing such respect given to her.

And there is no need to write a biography to defend yourself against accusations. There are things called statutory declarations where one can declare the truth and get it endorsed (provided it is the truth).

Biographies are written for very famous people who have done great deeds for humankind, and is usually not written by oneself. That becomes hypocrisy, as it is obvious that one will only write great things about oneself.

Abasir: She should sue all those who have defamed her. She must have a good reason for not doing so... and it doesn't appear to be an intrinsic goodness of heart nor a saintly, all-forgiving nature.

Anonymous_3e21: The great Mahathir finally met his match. Period. - Malaysiakini