ROSMAH TRIAL | Rosmah Mansor, the wife of former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak, was allegedly very conscious about her image and purportedly forked out RM100,000 a month to fund cybertroopers who were tasked to counter negative content about her on the internet.
This according to her former aide Rizal Mansor (above) who testified in Rosmah's graft trial today involving a solar hybrid project which she allegedly helped Jepak Holdings to secure in exchange for kickbacks.
"In 2012, I set up a cybertrooper team on Rosmah's instruction. The team, which I managed, was tasked to monitor social media content that is critical or creates a negative perception against Rosmah.
"The team must also counter and explain defamatory allegations and accusations against Rosmah to the public."
He said the cybertrooper team operated using funds that Rosmah personally provided.
"She gave me RM100,000 cash every month to fund the team," Rizal testified at the Kuala Lumpur High Court today.
Earlier, Rosmah's defence had applied to bar the media from covering his testimony but this was rejected by High Court judge Mohammed Zaini Mazlan.
Rizal, in his testimony, claimed Rosmah was very conscious about her image.
"She puts priority in her image, reputation, and people's perception of her status as the prime minister's wife.
"Rosmah always wanted publicity and media coverage for her activities," he testified.
Rizal told the court that he was hired as Rosmah's aide in 2009 through a specially created First Lady of Malaysia (FLOM) division under the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) and was paid by the Malaysian government.
Rizal testified that Rosmah's desire for publicity was not limited to the welfare programmes she attended.
"Rosmah also wanted media coverage for all activities that could increase her popularity and improve her image as the prime minister's wife in the eyes of the public.
“The FLOM division including myself also needed to manage and ensure such publicity was done for Rosmah.
"Rosmah would often contact me to get updates on news about her and also a bit about the current political situation.
"She would turn to me as a reference every time negative news about her was circulated. Rosmah put her high trust in me to manage and address such controversies," he claimed.
The 21st prosecution witness claimed that among the negative news on social media were ones that touched on Rosmah's integrity as the wife of the prime minister and linked her to expensive handbags and usage of a government jet, among others.
Rizal alleged that the allegations were constantly reported and sensationalised by the then opposition to the extent that the PMO had even advised the FLOM division and himself to decrease publicity for Rosmah in the media, adding that the accused was allegedly aware of this.
The witness testified that he, in his capacity as then special officer, was responsible for tackling allegations against Rosmah, to the extent of doing this via his own Facebook account and releasing media statements.
“Most of the media statements issued by me had gotten prior approval from Rosmah and then there were also other (media statements) issued on my own initiative,” Rizal said.
Rosmah is on trial over three charges on the alleged misappropriation of funds for the supply and installation of solar energy panels at 369 rural schools in Sarawak for the Education Ministry.
She faces one count of allegedly soliciting RM187.5 million and two charges of purportedly receiving a bribe of RM6.5 million from Jepak Holdings managing director Saidi Abang Samsudin as a reward for helping the company secure the RM1.25 billion project obtained through direct negotiations with the ministry. - Mkini
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