Girls like handbags, deputy minister defends Rosmah

There is nothing wrong in owning handbags and jewellery if the person is able to afford it, said Deputy Agriculture and Agro-based Industries Minister Tajuddin Abdul Rahman.

The Umno supreme council was defending Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak's wife, Rosmah Mansor.

"(Just) one or two bags, why not ? She's a lady, I know girls like handbags.

"I was told that one of the way of tackling a girl is buying (her) a handbag," he told reporters in Parliament.

As for Rosmah's jewellery, Tajuddin argued that the prime minister’s wife was moderate in what she has or wears, and jokingly pointed to his arm saying he has never seen her wearing jewellery up to her elbows.

"I didn't see (her wearing jewellery) until here (her elbow)," he said.

"Some of the Indian ladies like to wear (jewellery) until (their elbows), but not diamond and gold, all that imitation," he laughed.

"I am also dressing like this today, you don't be jealous because I can afford it," he added referring to his formal attire when attending parliamentary sittings.

Owning such items, he said depended on if the family could afford it.

Tajuddin also defended Rosmah and her husband’s lifestyle, arguing that they are not living in the lap of luxury as claimed by some foreign media.

"The way they go on holidays is just normal," he said.

He was responding to The Wall Street Journal article which claimed that Najib and his family spent US$15 million on holiday, shopping and jewellery.

[More to follow]

-Mkini