Ex-NST boss to PM: Why not make Rosmah minister?

(MM) - Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak should seriously consider making his wife, Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, a full minister in recognition of her “contributions to the country”, former NST editor-in-chief Datuk A. Kadir Jasin wrote today.

In an acerbic entry on his blog The Scribe, the senior newsman poked fun at Najib’s speech at the close of Umno’s general assembly yesterday, in which the prime minister heaped praise on his wife for helping to settle international crises involving Malaysians.

“Based on Mohd Najib’s information, it would be good for him to re-evaluate the position of Foreign Minister (Datuk Seri) Anifah Aman, because clearly he is not as effective as Rosmah in settling international crises,” Kadir wrote.

“The same goes for International Trade and Industry Minister, (Datuk Seri) Mustapa Mohamed, Women, Family and Community Development (Minister Datuk) Rohani Abdul Karim and Education Minister (Tan Sri) Muhyiddin Mohd Yassin, because Rosmah is also involved here and there in work that should be done by these ministers.

“This way we can drop ministers who do not perform and at the same time save on the country’s expenses by reducing the number of ministries,” he said.

Yesterday, in his closing speech for Umno’s 64th General Assembly, Najib said his wife had quietly played an important role in helping Malaysians who were in a pinch during the 2011 civil unrest in Egypt that deposed President Hosni Mobarak.

He told the over 2,000 delegates that Rosmah had been instrumental in helping free a Malaysian student detained by Egyptian authorities on suspicion of being a spy, and also helped secure safe passage for Malaysian students out of Egypt without visas during the revolution.

Kadir today said all Najib’s and his wife’s supporters need to do is get her appointed as a Senator and create a new portfolio for her called “Menteri Tugas-Tugas Khas”, or Special Functions Minister.

“When this is done, nobody can protest over her meddling or accuse her husband or the Cabinet of abusing their powers by allowing her to use government facilities,” he said.