KUALA LUMPUR - ROSMAH Mansor, the wife of Prime Minister Najib Razak, has taken the bull by the horns after an unsuccessful attempt by her husband to whitewash her from blame for allegedly using with impunity the government's private jet, which costs an exorbitant half million ringgit (RM500,000) to take out per flight.
"The facility of a government private jet existed before Datuk Seri Najib Razak became the Prime Minister," Rosmah was reported as saying by news portal Malaysia Gazette.
Her rather careless words invited further fire from critics, who accused her of adopting an irresponsible attitude.
They also wasted no time in telling her off that no one, especially the wives of previous Malaysian prime ministers, had ever been so controversial in using government facilities as she has in her husband's 5-year-rule.
"Since she accused the Opposition of attacking her, let us compare against wives of past prime ministers. We don't see Dr Siti Hasmah (wife of 4th premier Mahathir Mohamad) or the late Endon (wife of 5th premier Abdullah Badawi) getting into such hot soup. Now why is that," Opposition MP for Batu Tian Chua told Malaysia Chronicle.
"Datin Rosmah should understand that it is our role as the Opposition to keep an eye on the government and this particular government has a bad record of abusing public funds. If we didn't raise the matter, we would not be fulfilling our duties. Whatever we say in Parliament is on record, it is not something petty or personal but genuine questions. And from the public response we get, it is obvious they too agree that such matters must be clarified. Otherwise, I am sure Datin Rosmah won't bother to defend herself if the public sentiment is with her. It is as simple as that, nothing personal at all."
Maneuvering to get official nod to use govt jet without being questioned in Parliament?
Indeed, it does appear that the 62-year-old flamboyant wife of Malaysia's 6th premier feels the need to explain her actions.
However, some of her more cynical critics also believe that she is trying to "manipulate" for herself the same rights as the top government leaders.
"I don't think she wants to give up using the government jet to fly here and there. She wants to continue to do this without being scrutinized by the Opposition. Perhaps this is part of the plan to entrench her in the public's mind as being qualified to use the jet," an Opposition analyst told Malaysia Chronicle.
True or not, Rosmah's decision to 'come out' in her own defense does support the accusation by A Kadir Jasin, a former editor known for his loyalty to ex-premier Mahathir Mohamad, that Najib might as well make his wife a Senator and then appoint appoint Minister for Special Affairs.
Najib himself prompted some speculation of this sort when he divulged to his Umno party at a recent meeting that Rosmah had impeccable relations with certain Middle Eastern leaders, including deposed Egyptian dictator Hosni Mubarak.
Najib said his wife had in the past done Malaysia two good turns and deserved credit, not flak for using the government jet on a recent trip to Qatar, where she had gone in her personal capacity to deliver a speech on women rights at an Islamic forum.
According to Najib, the first good turn was when Rosmah contacted the former Egyptian president's wife in securing the release of a Malaysian student who had been arrested on suspicion of being a spy. The second was when Malaysian students were stranded in Egypt during the Arab uprising.
Wives of other world leaders do it TOO
Rosmah, herself, has this to say about her controversial Qatar trip, where she had been accused of making a stopover at Dubai to carry out one of her stupendous shopping sprees.
"I was given the honour of presenting the keynote speech entitled 'The Empowerment of Malaysian Women' and was also honoured with an award," said Rosmah.
"I shared the success of Malaysian women with the international audience but ironically, while I was expressing Malaysia's pride, there were disgruntled voices at home."
Rosmah also said that it was a common sight for the wives of world leaders to utilise their government's private jets for various factors, citing Bangladesh, Vietnam, Thailand, Laos and Cambodia.
"What I do, I do because of Allah. Let them slander me, thrown accusations at me or smear my image," said Rosmah.
"I do not expect people to thank me or be appreciative of the little effort which I have put it. But please stop looking for faults in others, or meddle in other people's affairs."
"And do not create stories because that is a major sin. I never talk bad about others. I never bad mouth the Opposition."
Killing two birds with one stone
Sad to say, despite coming out to speak for herself, chances are she will fail in her effort to convince the Malaysian people.
To many people Rosmah is a victim of her own persona. Her big hair-do and haughty demeanor have created her own 'mis-perception' or false image.
Her outrageously flamboyant lifestyle has made her larger than life and she has already overtaken former Philippine first lady Imelda Marcos, notorious for splurging on 3,000 pairs of shoes, as the most excessively extravagant political wife in the minds of the public here and elsewhere in the region.
Her shopping sprees were even commented on by the Australian media during a visit last year.
On a more hard-nosed level, it is also worth noting that at no time did Rosmah ever deny going shopping in Dubai, the glorious playground of the fabulously rich and powerful.
This lends further credence to the allegations that she may have indeed"killed two birds with one stone" during her infamous Qatar trip - and both on public expense! - Malaysia Chronicle
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