Rais is past his “Sell-buy” date

The more Malaysia’s Information, Communication and Culture Minister, Rais Yatim speaks out to defend BN’s actions or his ministry’s policies, the more we wonder why Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak didn’t offer him early retirement.

Rais’ latest gem is to tell us that ‘The First Lady’ Rosmah Mansor’s middle-eastern and Bangladesh trip, with her entourage of ministers wives and other hangers-on, was well worth every sen of taxpayers’ money and that we, the rakyat, are too dumb to acknowledge her contributions to Malaysia’s international image.

Rias said that ‘the people who criticised the overseas visits of the Prime Minister's wife did not understand government regulations’.

Which part of the word “wastage” does Rais not understand?

Rais said that Rosmah’s visits to Saudi Arabia, Oman and Bangladesh were provided for by the rules of the Members of the Administration Ethics 1988/1999, which were decided by the cabinet.

Perhaps these rules need to be revised by an independent body?

We have a few questions to ask him, as he is our Minister for Information, although he will probably say that the information requested is “classified”.

Rosmah started her three-day visit to Saudi Arabia on 8 January. We know she returned to Malaysia for Taib Mahmud’s wedding reception. The day after the reception, she resumed her Arabian travels and spent four-days in Oman before she completed the last leg of her tour to Bangladesh, on 19 January.

Could the organisers not plan a continuous itinerary rather than break-up the middle-eastern tour to accommodate the grand wedding in Kuching?

Rosmah could have informed her hosts of the private engagement rather than waste our money flying her and her coffee-morning crowd back and forth?

Even Prime ministers and Presidents of the ‘First World’ nations make the best use of time and resources. The Malaysian government seems to use the airlines, like we use a taxi service to go downtown.

Perhaps Rosmah should have decided which is more important - the wedding or the Arabian visit?

As taxpayers’ money was used to fund this trip we would like some questions answered.

Who were the members of her delegation? What were their official capacities? Who was given the task of choosing who should accompany Rosmah? Who picked up the tab? Did any person or persons pay their own way? What gifts did Rosmah give the respective hosts of the countries she visited? What gifts did Rosmah and members of her delegation receive and have they declared their gifts to the tax authorities? What was her itinerary?

Rais may have cited Article 1180A of the ethics to justify Rosmah’s trip. Does he not realise that we have every right to ask these questions if non-elected representatives feel they can spend taxpayers money?

Rais is incorrect to say that condemnation of Rosmah and the wives visit, “stem from political ill will”. Many people on the ground are not as obtuse as him.

Perhaps Malaysia’s High Commission and MAS airline staff lack the courage to tell him of the alleged excesses from shopping and massive shipments that they have to arrange for Rosmah when she returns from overseas trips with her husband.

No one disapproves of ministers and their wives wishing to ‘shop till they drop’ on their own time and using their own funds.

We strongly object when it is abusing the public purse and using diplomatic and airline staff like their personal help. - Malaysia Chronicle