Rosmah, it is one’s character that lays down a legacy for life

Like

Love

Haha

Wow

Sad

Angry

It is not easy not to comment, whenever Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak’s wife Rosmah Mansor speaks about taking care of one’s self-image.

According to Rosmah, as wives of the country’s leaders, they have an obligation tolook after their self-image, especially when accompanying their husbands on official visits.

This article alone attracted more than 2,600 Shares and 95 comments, many of which are negative. For example, someone writing using the pseudonym Slumdog says: “Oh my goodness, from Rosmah’s school of deportment and RM 1,200 hair dos.

“This is from someone who flaunts her unexplained wealth at every opportunity and wears only branded clothes, handbags and jewellery costing hundreds of thousands, preaching to others about portraying a conservative self-image. This has to take the prize for irony of the year. People in such positions really set themselves up to ridicule.”

Another comment came from CQMuar who responded to a reader: “Ali Baba, I absolutely agree with you on your statement about Kak Wan Azizah. I recall an occasion when she was in Muar town on her walkabout, campaigning for the PKR candidate before GE13. I was accompanying her on her rounds meeting people tirelessly, shaking hands with the town-folks and taking pictures with them, especially the ladies clamouring to have the rare opportunity to do so.”

Not what you wear

It is not what you wear that makes the difference. For example, the Singapore prime minister's wife, Ho Ching, visited the United States of America with her husband.

She was initially criticised, but when netcitizens discovered that the ‘blue, dinosaur-printed clutch’ that Ho was holding was designed by a Singaporean student at Pathlight, the country’s first autism-focused school, they were deeply impressed, and started praising her.

The price tag was only S$15, compared to a hairdo of RM1,200.

Therefore, it is not what we wear that makes a difference to the hosts, but our values in life. For Ho, she was proud that that her country has started a school for children with autism.

What a woman like Ho has achieved is remarkable. According to the school, immediately after news of Ho’s accessory choice appeared widely, the school was able to sell 200 pouches in a single day, what it had taken them four months to achieve.

That particular pouch has since been sold out. I am sure when Michelle Obama took notice of the pouch, she would have asked Ho about the school. It is something that both Lee and Ho would have been proud of when the Obamas complimented the country on the work to help the autistic children.

For that reason, the netizens stopped attacking Ho. They started to look up to her.

Character makes all the difference

Therefore, it is obvious that it is the character of a person that makes all the difference. For example, Malaysiakini readers were able to immediately give the example of Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail or Kak Wan.

I have personally met Kak Wan, and I find her to be a lady of great honour. Although her husband has been sent to prison twice, Kak Wan remains a woman of virtue. She does not have to wear anything elaborate just to impress, but people naturally respect her for who she is.

Another person who has gained my respect a lot for many years is Dr Siti Hasmah Mohamad Ali. Being the first Malay lady doctor in the country, Dr Siti Hasmah does not have to adorn hereself with something interesting, yet she earns the respect of millions of Malaysians.

The late Endon Mahmud was also a woman who easily won the hearts of many fellow Malaysians. Although she has passed on, her being herself was well-loved by many who had worked with her.

I am sure by now Rosmah would have heard what is being said in the grapevine and how civil servants were allegedly unhappy with having to comply with all her wishes. By now, Rosmah should understand that it is not what she wears or carries that matters, but the character that endears oneself to others, or repulse them.

I end with the example of Mother Theresa. She was wearing her nun’s costumes for the most part of her life, but this one woman has a personality that speaks of love than the hypocrisy that we see in some of our ministers’ wives.

If Rosmah wants to improve her self-image, and thereafter help the other ministers to improve their self-image, she has to start listening to the feedback from the people who matter because we are the voters.

Najib’s drop in popularity over the years does speak a lot about the people’s view of the couple, and unless there is a change of heart, no amount of money spent on image consultants would make a difference.

---

STEPHEN NG is an ordinary citizen with an avid interest in following political developments in the country since 2008. - Mkini