IN an attempt to possibly to gain a modicum of sympathy, Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor apparently gave an interview to Berita Harian which eventually went viral after she expressed disappointment that certain parties were wildly celebrating her family’s downfall.
The former self-styled FLOM a.k.a. First Lady of Malaysia famed for her love of high (and very expensive) fashion further contended that she has turned a deaf ear to accusations that she was the reason behind her husband’s downfall.
In case anyone has just emerged from a cave, she was speaking in the aftermath of the latest 1MDB scandal court verdict where former premier Datuk Seri Najib Razak was sentenced to 15 years in prison and fined RM11.38 bil following his conviction.
The high-profile fan of bling famed for her love of Birkin handbags (among other things) may have miscalculated the mood somewhat as news of the interview drew widespread condemnation on social media.
On the Berita Harian Facebook page where the interview was shared, the reaction was far from positive.
One commenter asked to imagine how does the family of current Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim feel regarding accusations that PMX was engaged in inappropriate relations with a male aide.
It was also remarked that humility was only present when there is a loss of power with more than a few commenters drawing comparison with Filipina Imelda Marcos, wife of former dictator Ferdinand Marcos, with her also being a hoarder of high fashion (shoes).
On Harian Metro’s Facebook page, the reaction was equally damning with plenty of commenters mocking the 74-year-old for even daring to suggest she and her family deserve empathy. One way is to accompany her husband in prison, teased one commenter.
This was when some commenters brought up the leaked phone conversation between Rosmah and her husband that cast her as domineering queen figure that was calling the shots.
A few commenters were in no doubt that Bossku was behind bars partly due to his spouse’s avarice, arrogance and – for want of a better word – greed.
The fact that it is the taxpayer who has to shoulder the burden of the 1MDB scandal was reiterated, highlighting that many citizens remember well the lavish lifestyles of Rosmah and her kin.
On the social media portals of English-language media, the reaction would not have made for pleasant reading for Rosmah or her supporters, if there are indeed any left.
On Lumi News Facebook site, the same sentiments were being echoed by various commenters. One argued that the celebrations were not directed at the couple’s misfortune specifically but was taken to heart by Rosmah as those “who eat chilis will feel the heat”.
More than one commenter brought up the ghost of Shaariibuugiin Altantuya. The murder of the Mongolian model has continued to be linked to Najib and Rosmah though there have been no criminal proceedings on this matter. This was karma, professed a few observers.
On the New Straits Times Facebook page, the content was equally lacking in sympathy for the wife of the disgraced sixth premier and 10-term Pekan MP.
Some commenters pointed to Rosmah’s love of ultra-expensive bags as a sign that she was out of touch with ordinary, working-class Malaysians.
This penchant for luxury goods has somewhat stuck and seemingly defined the mother of four as a show-off and a spendthrift which will not sit well with citizens battling a cost-of-living crisis.
One commenter perhaps summed up what many others are feeling when he lamented that it is a damn shame that Rosmah is not rotting behind bars like her husband.
Editor’s Note: Recount that Rosmah was found guilty of corruption in relation to a school electricity project on Sept 1, 2022 whereby she was fined RM303 mil and sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment.
However, the High Court acquitted Rosmah on Dec 19, 2024 of 17 counts of money laundering and tax evasion due to insufficient evidence.
Rightly or wrongly, Rosmah suffers from a perception that she is a domineering lady who was calling the shots behind the scenes.
Her affinity for branded luxury goods also highlighted a disconnect with the rakyat that has come back to bite her. Few will be able to empathise with a lady whose single handbag can cost more than a person’s annual wages.
Unlike her husband who still commands some support, there is very little sympathy for a lady that many see as the source for Najib’s downfall.
Judging from feedback from both Malay- and English-language news portals, perhaps it would have been advisable for the unofficial face of Hermes to have stayed silent and out of the headlines. – Focus Malaysia
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