Rosmah: I went to Oxford to pave way for Permata, not holiday

The prime minister's wife Rosmah Mansor said her trip to Oxford University in May was not for holiday but to pave way for children under the Permata early childhood education programme to join the university.

"We want these children to succeed in their field and we also discussed how they can be granted entry to Oxford University, God willing.

"I did not go there for holiday (berjalan-jalan). I went there with (Permata Pintar Negara centre director) Dr Noriah (Mohd Ishak).... that was why we were at Oxford," she said.

Rosmah clarified her trip to London during a function at Permata Pintar Negara centre at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia today.

In May, Rosmah, who is Permata patron, led a delegation including Permata students to London.

Also present during the trip were Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Azalina Othman Said and Women, Family and Community Development Minister Rohani Abdul Karim.

During her speech today, Rosmah also explained that the Permata programme was for children with an IQ above 140, who are considered to be geniuses.

She added that the programme is intended to ensure that they receive the education that matches their IQ.

"What is important is for children with high IQ to receive be taught and attend school where the methods are different from that of an ordinary school.

"Normal schools are not for those who are not smart but for those with regular IQ like me," she said.

She said it would be a waste of such children are not placed under a special programme like Permata.

"They can learn the syllabus of form four and form five, which takes two years, in just eight months. If they can pass with good results, they can immediately enter university.

"Don't just think that students in the other country are smart. We should be aware that many who are successful are Malaysian children," she said. - Mkini