KUALA KANGSAR: A brief commotion occurred outside the Amanah operations centre here on Wednesday when an aide to Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor showed up for the press conference by PKR vice-president Rafizi Ramli.
Rafizi had been scheduled to reveal further allegations regarding the use of a private jet by Rosmah, wife of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.
Reporters were aware last night that Rosmah’s aide, Datuk Rizal Mansor, planned to turn up at the press conference to rebut the allegations by Rafizi in person.
Rizal arrived around noon together with several other unidentified men and was seen shaking hands with Amanah candidate Dr Ahmad Termizi Ramli.
However, when they asked to enter the building, Amanah staff stopped them from doing so.
A verbal confrontation ensued between the two parties as Rafizi arrived and proceeded upstairs for the press conference.
Rizal and his companions later left the premises after being repeatedly told that they could not enter on grounds that only media personnel were invited.
Members of the media waiting in the room upstairs were subsequently asked by an Amanah representative to produce their media tags to verify their identities.
“We just want to make sure that there aren't those who wish to cause disturbance," Rafizi said before the start of the press conference.
PKR secretary-general Rafizi Ramli has questioned the need for the government to charter another private jet when it already has three existing aircraft.
His question comes after his exposé made last week that prime minister’s wife Rosmah Mansor had used an Airbus (ACJ 319 A6-CJE) - a private jet owned by Emirates Airline - for a trip to Istanbul.
Based on his estimation, Rafizi said RM86.4 million was spent to charter the jet for two months.
Therefore, the Pandan lawmaker said the government’s existing jets should have been used instead for the trip.
The government currently has the ACJ319 9M-NAA which was bought a few years ago, and ACJ320 9M-NAB which was bought last year and is currently under maintenance.
In his press conference today, Rafizi reminded how the government had explained that ACJ320 9M-NAB was bought to replace BBJ737-700 M53-01.
But citing BBJ 737-700’s recent flight records, Rafizi said the jet was still actively used by the government.
The jet, however, was not in use between May 17 and 30. Jet ACJ319 9M-NAA, on the other hand, was used from May 24 to 29 for domestic flights.
Rafizi argued that BBJ 737-700 should have therefore been used instead.
“This would enable jet ACJ319 9M-NAA, which is newer and is usually used for international flights for the prime minister, be used during Rosmah's trip from May 25 to 27.
“If this was done, millions of the rakyat’s money would not have been wasted to lease a luxurious jet like the ACJ319 A6-CJE,” he said.
Meanwhile, Rafizi also questioned the reasons why BBJ 737-700 is still used by the government.
Since an advertisement in August 2015 that it was up for bidding, there has been no confirmation whether the jet had indeed been sold or otherwise, said Rafizi.
“Therefore, I urge Najib, as minister responsible in managing all of the government’s jets, to explain why BBJ737-700 has yet to be sold and why it is still being used, as this involves the rakyat’s money,” he said.
Rafizi last week revealed that Rosmah had used a private jet for a trip to Istanbul, Turkey, and that based on estimations, the jet - which was chartered for two months - had cost RM86.4 million.
Apart from the press conferences held last week and today, a special ceramah session is set to be held tonight. Rafizi said more details will be revealed in relation to the issue.
No one should question the right of Rosmah Mansor’s hiring of a private jet as it is her right and duty as the prime minister’s wife, said an Umno leader.
“Don’t (expect) the wife of the prime minister to travel on a normal flight schedule, I don’t think there is a leader in the world who does this.
“So, let’s not deny the right of a prime minister’s wife or prime minister by saying or trying to give the impression that (the flight) had been hired for private use,” Umno information chief Annuar Musa told Malaysiakini.
He was asked when met after breaking fast in Manong, Kuala Kangsar yesterday during the by-election campaign, to comment on PKR secretary-general Rafizi Ramli’s continued expose on Rosmah using a private jet for a trip to Istanbul.
Rafizi last Wednesday revealed that Rosmah flew in the hired aircraft to Turkey to accept the 3G Children Welfare Award on behalf of early childhood programme Permata.
The PKR leader alleged the plane had been chartered for two months, and estimated it would have cost the government RM86.4 million.
Annuar, who is an Umno supreme council member, said there is no abuse of power in the case the jet trip.
“There is a difference between private business and the duties of the wife of a prime minister, and the duties of the prime minister’s wife must be respected.
“It must be given right and status, along with what she is eligible for.
“Therefore the question of wrongdoing doesn’t arise at all,” he said.
'Don't go overboard'
He called Rafizi’s claims “baseless” and done in bad taste especially in the holy month of Ramadan when Muslims are fasting.
“I believe we should exercise some restraint although we want to play politics, let’s do it with care and base it on certain values in accordance with good Muslims,” he said.
“That jet can be rented out to anyone, and anyone can hire it, that’s all,” he reiterated.
K KANGSAR POLLS Former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad today declared that he will answer questions that were previously posed by the police in court.
Mahathir, who is in Kuala Kangsar in support of Parti Amanah Negara’s (Amanah) candidate in the by-election, lamented how people today do not know if they would be arrested or not for lodging police reports.
Previously, he said, police would investigate whether a particular report had basis or otherwise, but the same cannot be said today.
Mahathir said he was ‘lucky’, too, in that he had been called for interrogation thrice.
“They asked me many things, but perhaps because I'm stupid, I didn't answer,” said Mahathir in his trademark cheeky humour at an event organised by Pakatan Harapan here today.
“If you want me to answer, charge me and I will answer in court,” he added, to applause from some 300 attendees at the event.
Once in court, Mahathir said he, through his lawyer, had the right to ask Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak and his wife Rosmah Mansor on the authenticity of a picture depicting the latter boarding a private jet.
“I want to ask whether the picture is authentic, with 12 people carrying big bags.
“If we want to ride planes we have Malaysia Airlines (MAS) and we can go anywhere, but she has to rent a jet which costs RM80 million and then they say they have no money,” he said.
Mahathir’s dig was in reference to the expose made by PKR secretary-general Rafizi Ramli who had revealed that Rosmah used a private jet for an overseas trip to Istanbul.
In response to Rosmah’s aide Rizal Mansor, who said that the jet was chartered for two months, Rafizi estimated that RM86.4 million, therefore, was spent to rent it.
Mahathir had been questioned by police over remarks he made against Umno branch leaders as well as attorney-general Mohamed Apandi Ali.
After leaving Umno, Mahathir spearheaded the Save Malaysia movement which urges, among others, the resignation of Najib.
An aide to Rosmah Mansor has dismissed the latest allegation concerning the luggage on board a private jet which flew the prime minister's wife to Istanbul.
According to Rizal Mansor, this was another miscalculation by PKR secretary-general Rafizi Ramli, who questioned the excessive number of bags and their contents this morning.
"The prime minister's wife is not the only passenger on the flight. The plane also carried 13 other passengers and seven crew members. Are you saying they all do not have any luggage?
"This is a long-range flight. So it means they would have to change clothes.
"Which is why the bags were hand-carried. They also carried their own food on board," he said in a Facebook post.
Rizal (photo) also accused Rafizi of attempting to cover up a previous miscalculation over the Istanbul flight hours.
"That is why he is now talking about the number of bags for the entourage of the prime minister's wife to Istanbul," Rizal said.
He said Rafizi's allegation that the plane had ample cargo space for baggage storage stemmed from the PKR parliamentarian's misunderstanding or lack of knowledge about aircraft specifications.
First of all, he explained, the particular plane's cargo space was not as large as others of the same model or make.
"YB (Rafizi) can check the term ACT - 'additional centre tank' with his friends in the airline industry. The plane's cargo compartment has been modified to accommodate a larger fuel tank to increase its flight range," he said.
Rizal also said that the cargo space had been used to transport equipment and costumes for Permata's performance troupe, which had accompanied Rosmah on her trip on an invitation.
"For your information YB, the cargo compartment for executive aircraft is also not the same as those of commercial flights.
"In the case of this flight, the cargo compartment was used to carry the costumes and props for the Permata Seni performance group, which was invited to perform over there (Istanbul)," he said.
Rizal claimed that Rafizi, who is also the MP for Pandan, had ill-intentions and wanted to incite hatred against Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak and his wife.
"Maybe, in the Pandan constituency, there are no longer any public concerns that he needs to fight for, and that is why he is minding other people's business," he said.
While campaigning for the Kuala Kangsar and Sungai Besar twin by-elections, Rafizi had accused Rosmah of using a private jet for her overseas trips.
However, Rizal denied any wrongdoing, stressing that Rosmah was legally accorded the privilege as the prime minister’s wife and when travelling on national matters.
Meanwhile, Rosmah, who was with her husband in his full day campaign in Kuala Kangsar, stayed mum when asked to respond to Rafizi's allegations.
She visited Hospital Kuala Kangsar this evening before leaving for the BN candidate Mastura Mohd Yazid's house.
Her security came to block journalists who tried to take video footage of Rosmah on their handphones.
Earlier, before her arrival, two police personnel had told the journalists to refrain from interviewing her.
For the third consecutive day, PKR secretary-general Rafizi Ramli continued his expose on Rosmah Mansor using a private jet for a trip to Istanbul.
He revealed a two-minute video which purportedly showed Rosmah boarding the plane owned by Emirates Airline (Emirates) while her officers were carrying bags into the aircraft.
Speaking to reporters here, Rafizi questioned the number of officers who accompanied Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak's wife on the trip as well as the contents of the bags.
Claiming that he had "lost count" of the number of bags, the Pandan lawmaker asked the reason for the bags not being placed in the designated luggage area.
"Since this is a private jet, it has ample space to store bags without affecting comfort onboard the jet. What's the use of renting a luxurious jet if it is full of luggage?" he queried.
"What's inside the bags? If they are full of clothes, are they so valuable that they can't be stored at the proper luggage area?" he added.
Rafizi, who has been sued by the prime minister and his wife previously, said he expected to be dragged to court again over his latest allegations.
"I will wait for the lawsuit, I'll see you in court," he added.
K KANGSAR POLLS For the third consecutive day, PKR secretary-general Rafizi Ramli continued his expose on Rosmah Mansor using a private jet for a trip to Istanbul.
He revealed a two-minute video which purportedly showed Rosmah boarding the plane owned by Emirates Airline (Emirates) while her officers were carrying bags into the aircraft.
Speaking to reporters here, Rafizi questioned the number of officers who accompanied Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak's wife on the trip as well as the contents of the bags.
Claiming that he had "lost count" of the number of bags, the Pandan lawmaker asked the reason for the bags not being placed in the designated luggage area.
"Since this is a private jet, it has ample space to store bags without affecting comfort onboard the jet. What's the use of renting a luxurious jet if it is full of luggage?" he queried.
"What's inside the bags? If they are full of clothes, are they so valuable that they can't be stored at the proper luggage area?" he added.
Rafizi, who has been sued by the prime minister and his wife previously, said he expected to be dragged to court again over his latest allegations.
"I will wait for the lawsuit, I'll see you in court," he added.
“She can sue me, (she) can say anything, but with social media, those are the questions that the public will ask after looking at the video."
Meanwhile, responding to Rosmah’s aide Rizal Mansor who said she did not live in the clouds for two months, Rafizi said the to-and-fro flight from Subang to Istanbul would have cost RM1.5 million.
“And this is only one trip, what if she had gone on 10 trips? Millions were still wasted in two months.
“If RM86 million is too much, then give us the (real) figure. I couldn't have plugged the figure out of thin air, my basis was on the fact that RM60,000 was spent per hour,” he said.
Rafizi on Wednesday revealed that Rosmah flew in the aircraft to Turkey to accept the 3G Children Welfare Award on behalf of early childhood programme Permata.
He had claimed that the two-month lease of the Airbus ACJ319 would cost the government approximately RM86.4 million.
Rizal however said that Rafizi had tried to give the impression that Rosmah had lived in the clouds for two months on the aircraft
Malaysiakini has contacted Rizal and is awaiting his response on Rafizi’s latest expose.
In his latest exposé, PKR secretary-general Rafizi Ramli claimed that Rosmah Mansor had used a private jet to attend an event in Istanbul.
On May 27, Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak’s wife received the 3G Children Welfare Award on behalf of Permata and this was reported by the mainstream media.
However, Rafizi said how she went there was not mentioned in these reports.
“I can confirm that she had used a private jet - an Airbus A-319 – owned by Emirates Airline (Emirates),” he alleged during a press conference in Kuala Kangsar this afternoon.
Rafizi had used phone application 'Plane Finder' to trace the jet's flight path.
Furnishing screen captures of the flight paths, he said the jet had departed to Subang from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on May 23 before returning to the UAE from Subang two days later.
The jet then departed for Istanbul from the UAE on May 25.
Although the dates were stated otherwise, Rafizi reminded that the dates were in accordance to where the jet was at the time as opposed to local Malaysian time.
According to Emirates Airlines' website, its versions of the twin-engined aircraft can carry up to 19 passengers, and sleeps up to 15.
It features 10 private suites with a 32" TV in each room, as well as a lounge area.
The jet, Rafizi claimed, was chartered and leased especially for the particular trip.
Since Rosmah received the award on behalf of Permata which is a public-funded project, he said it was therefore only fair to ask who paid for the flight.
“She has to answer this since she was the one who took the flight and Najib too has to answer because he has to be responsible for this,” he added.
The PKR vice-president also questioned why Rosmah did not use a commercial flight for her trip to Istanbul.
“Even if she took a first-class flight, I’m sure it would be much cheaper than renting a whole private jet,” he pointed out.
Apart from who was responsible for paying for the flight, Rafizi also wanted to know the identity of the person who made the reservations.
“Also, why was Rosmah, a member of the public, given the leeway to use the Subang airport which is a military base - it's not like she’s going to war,” he said.
Rafizi, meanwhile, confirmed that he would make daily exposé on the matter until Friday.
“The prime minister, Rosmah, BN’s candidate Mastura (Mohd Yazid) and PAS candidate (Dr Najihatussalehah Ahmad) can keep quiet on the matter, but the more you try to avoid this issue, the more voters can see your (lack of) honesty in defending their rights,” he said.
The vocal parliamentarian also expressed hope for PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang’s feedback on the matter.
“I want an open public rebuke from Hadi against our prime minister for failing to guide his own wife.
“This will also be the acid test - which party will be brave to stand up to defend the rakyat’s rights,” he said.
Therefore, he said voters should be in a position to gauge which party was the most vocal and sincere in fighting for the rakyat.
“I hope voters in Sungai Besar and Kuala Kangsar will be convinced that Amanah and Pakatan Harapan are the most sincere in fighting for them," he added.
This is not the first time that Rosmah has been criticised for using a private jet for visits abroad.
She allegedly used a government jet to also received an award in Padang, Indonesia in 2014.
Rosmah had, however, defended her use of private jets, saying they were for work and not leisure.
Malaysiakini has contacted Rosmah’s aide Rizal Mansor for comment on this allegation.
A Facebook posting showing Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor superimposed with a pig's body has caused an uproar among a group of housewives in Penang.
The group, made up of Umno members, women non-governmental organisations, single mothers and housewives from Bayan Baru, lodged 11 police reports against a Facebook user, identified as Peter Lee, urging swift investigations by the authorities.
Bayan Baru Umno information chief Kuraishah Syed Mohamad said it was unfortunate that people these days go to such extremes to offend leaders in the country.
"We must respect our leaders. It is not our place to simply decide who is wrong and right. It is not right to do something like this to a leader or anybody.
"The person who did this must face the music," she said outside the Bayan Baru police station.
The Facebook posting showed Rosmah's head superimposed on the body of a pig.
In a screenshot of the posting shown to the media, it was not stated when the posting, which was in Chinese, was uploaded onto the popular social media site.
Datin Ros Suryati Alang, an Umno Wanita chief who also lodged a report, said as women and mothers, she felt that the person who uploaded the photograph has gone overboard with the insult.
"We feel so angry. The pig is an animal that is 'haram' in Islam. It (the posting) upsets Muslims... it is also racist.
"We hope the Home Ministry and the Malaysian Communication and Multimedia Commission will investigate this person immediately," she said.
Rosmah, who is Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak's wife, had been the victim of several offensive Facebook postings.
Last year, after the disappearance of Malaysia Airlines MH370, a Facebook user uploaded a superimposed picture showing Rosmah dead. – March 2, 2015.
- See more at: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/angry-housewives-go-to-police-after-rosmahs-picture-on-pig#sthash.BHHJJZAw.dpuf
While the cost of healthcare and education will shoot up after GST, our deputy finance minister is scrambling to place a cap on house call charges for hairdos.
Tears of joy bathed my cheeks as I felt an immense weight lifted off my chest. Let’s all rise and say “Hallelujah” as the Lord has listened to our prayers.
Our admirable First Lady Rosmah Mansor has gotten a new sidekick who is none other than Ahmad Maslan, the Deputy Finance Minister as they have joined forces for the betterment of mankind (limited only to the lucky citizens of Malaysia).
A few days back, Rosmah lamented that she was being overcharged for her custom made dresses and bouffant hairdo (I’m secretly and inexplicably fascinated by it) and that those days of injustice are over with the implementation of the Goods and Services Tax (GST).
Ahmad Maslan, moved by her plight, has proposed that there should be a price guide for tailors, hairstylists, beauticians, plumbers, electricians and so on in order to curb overcharging in the post-GST period.
Obviously the predicament of our First Lady far outweighs that of the common folk. Nothing happened when the people said a loud and resounding “NO” to the implementation of GST or at least to start it off easy so that we wouldn’t crumble from its weight.
I suppose if it is important, you will find a way and if it’s not, you will find an excuse.
I mean why bother about the cost of health care that keeps snowballing. There has only been a 20-50% increase in the costs which is expected to increase even further this year. Thank goodness only 320 types of medications out of 4,200 are subjected to GST. Never mind the fact that, the same type of medicine produced by a different brand is considered different. Somewhere in the near future people will willingly crawl into their graves rather than hop onto a hospital stretcher. A quick death would seem more welcome than a crippling debt that you will spend all your life trying to pay off.
Why bother about the rising cost of education? It is after all the only means for middle and lower class people to break free from the shackles of poverty especially those without any special privileges that some politician decades ago decided was to be the birthright of a select few.
Nurul Izzah pounced on the news of price guides for house calls like a hungry tigress on a baby gazelle and shot out a statement saying that all it took for Putrajaya to sit up and take notice of our financial woes was Rosmah’s hair.
While I agree with her sentiments, I cannot help but ask myself why is everything politicised? All this has given the opposition fodder to vilify the government and feed us their own propaganda.
While we will no doubt be treated to an impressive verbal sparring in the coming days, nothing will be achieved at the end of the day.
Apparently all we can do for now is sit back and smirk while those with silver spoons stuck in their mouths tell us to tighten our belts.
Americk says objections deliberately raised to “wear out my client financially".
FMT
KUALA LUMPUR: The family of the late P Balasubramanian may never get the chance to prove their case that they were the victims of a tortious conspiracy involving Prime Minister Najib Razak, his wife Rosmah Mansor and seven others, which forced them to leave Malaysia for almost five years between 2008 and 2013.
According to a report in the Malaysian Insider today, Americk Sidhu, the lawyer of Balasubramanian’s wife Santamil, is alleging that the respondents have raised certain objections to the effect that the appeal was defective and ought not to be heard on its merits.
One of the objections was that the family ought to have filed seven separate notices of appeal since the defendants had separate law firms acting for them and each law firm had filed a separate striking out application.
According to Americk, only one notice was filed because the High Court had delivered one decision on December 11 last year which had disposed of all the applications.
Refuting the suggestion that multiple notices ought to have been filed, Americk said, “This is absurd and is an attempt to wear out my client financially because every notice of appeal must be accompanied by RM1,000.00 in deposit.”
“I will raise this issue before the Court of Appeal Registrar to ensure her appeal is heard without any hindrance,” he added.
Balasubramanian was the private investigator caught up in events leading to the October 2006 murder of Mongolian socialite Altantuya Shaariibuu and had famously affirmed two statutory declarations one day apart from each other under circumstances which have yet to be satisfactorily explained.
In a lengthy first Statutory Declaration which he affirmed on July 1, 2008, Bala had suggested that Najib and Abdul Razak Baginda had known Altantuya and may have been involved in events immediately preceding her murder.
He, however, retracted the entire contents of that statutory declaration in a statutory declaration which he affirmed the very next day claiming that it had been made under “inducement and threat”.
Bala passed away on May 15, 2013, only two months after he and his family returned from exile.
The lawsuit was commenced by his family in the High Court June 2014, despite the fact that no letters of administration had been issued in respect of his estate at the time.
In striking the suit without trial, High Court Judge Hasnah Mohamed Hashim held that the family had no locus standi in the absence of letters of administration. She also held that the particulars of conspiracy pleaded were insufficient to give rise to a reasonable cause of action.
The family’s appeal is presently before the Court of Appeal.
The other defendants named in the suit were Najib’s brothers Ahmad Johari Abdul Razak and Mohd Nazim Abdul Razak, three lawyers – Cecil Abraham, Sunil Abraham and M Arunapalam, as well as Zainal Abidin Muhayat, a commissioner for oaths.
Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak has
"received an inheritance" which is his source of wealth, a statement
from his office reportedly said.
The New York Times (NYT) today quoted the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) saying this when asked how Najib acquired his money.
The report concerned businessman Jho Low, his links to Najib’s family and the premier's allegedly lavish lifestyle.
Among
others, the prominent newspaper pointed to a series of photos of
Najib's wife Rosmah Mansor with a range of expensive handbags that had
gone viral on social media.
The Birkin bags - of which there were supposedly at least nine - cost
between US$9,000 to US$150,000 (RM32,000 to RM535,000) each, the report
said.
The NYT also claimed that it had obtained invoices and other documents amounting to "millions of dollars" in jewellery ordered for Rosmah in Hong Kong in 2008 and 2009.
It also quoted Najib's former aide Ariff Sabri saying that Najib had kept “piles and piles” of cash stacked in his safe.
However, the PMO reportedly responded saying, "Neither any money spent
on travel, jewellery purchases nor the alleged contents of any safes are
unusual for a person of the prime minister's position,
responsibilities, and legacy (of) family assets."
Najib is the son of the late Abdul Razak Hussein, Malaysia’s second prime minister.
His monthly salary as the current prime minister is RM22,826.65, and is
also entitled to a range of perks and allowances, such as a pension.
KUALA LUMPUR: Disaffection with Najib Abdul Razak’s leadership has spread so widely within Umno itself that the time is right for the party’s leaders to call for his resignation, former Federal Territory Umno official Shahbudin Husin says in his latest blog entry.
“In reality,” he writes, “only the 191 divisional heads – and not all of them at that – are still determined to defend Najib. Everywhere, leaders at other levels are openly saying that Umno’s future would brighten if he is replaced by another leader.”
Apart from complaints about Najib’s handling of the economy, he says, the negative talk also revolves around the alleged meddling of his wife, Rosmah Mansor, in his administration to the extent that the government is being derisively referred to as the “Najib-Rosmah” government.
“The time has come for Umno leaders to courageously speak up, to honestly tell Najib that party members at the grassroots and, in fact, members of the general public are becoming increasingly vocal in rejecting his government. The voice is getting louder every day.”
He criticises Umno leaders who, although they realise the need for change, are unwilling to speak up for fear of losing their well-paid positions and all the conveniences that come with them.
He says they should be willing to perform a “jihad” for the good of their party and the nation.
“Umno and the country must not be destroyed by the Najib-Rosmah partnership,” he says. “Asking Najib to resign for the good of the nation is not a crime.”
PETALING JAYA: It looks like a blogging war has started between Cheras Umno chief Syed Ali al-Habshee and former Federal Territory Umno official Shahbudin Husin, and the battleground is Rosmah Mansor.
In his blog entry yesterday, Syed Ali chastised Shahbudin for challenging the Federal Territory Islamic Department (Jawi) to take action against Rosmah for hugging badminton ace Lee Chong Wei. He said Rosmah did nothing wrong because she held the status of a mother to all Malaysians.
Shahbudin shoots back today by asking Syed Ali whether he would also condone Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak hugging female athletes such as squash star Nicol David in his role as father to Malaysians.
He reminds Syed Ali that in his posting yesterday he also referred to the incident in which Rosmah “rubbed cheeks” with Bollywood star Arjun Rampal.
In the case of the incident with Chong Wei, he says, it was in fact not a light hug.
Shahbudin alleges that Rosmah has not shown any keenness to “embrace or rub cheeks” with women athletes or entertainers.
“It looks as if Syed Ali has a certain agenda in defending the Prime Minister’s wife and is trying to hide other wrongs committed by Rosmah,” he says.
“As a mature person and one descended from the Prophet, Syed Ali should show more wisdom when it comes to the law against physical contact between unrelated men and women and not make it all right just because it involves the Prime Minister’s wife.”
KUALA LUMPUR: The Bangkok Post has put to rest the endless speculation surrounding our prime minister and his wife by reporting that the couple was indeed in Thailand recently on a private New Year’s vacation and to meet with General Prayut Chan-o-cha.
Quoting a source close to General Prayut, the paper said on Tuesday that Najib Razak and his wife, Rosmah Mansor made the trip to Thailand on January 2, where they shopped, played golf and stayed the night at the Shangri-La Hotel in Bangkok.
The source also said the trip was kept under wraps on account of etiquette as it was of a private nature.
The paper also disclosed that Najib lunched with Prayut at the general’s residence in Kesakomol where the two discussed a variety of issues including that of dual citizens and border crossings by Malaysian vans into Thailand.
“The Malaysian prime minister had to tweet that he had lunch with Gen Prayut to thank Thailand for donating 500 tonnes of rice to help flood-hit Malaysian victims and to exchange views on flood solving and restoration.
“This is seen as trying to avoid criticism about his trip. Thailand did not disclose news about his visit for etiquette reasons as he went to holiday here” added the source.
Najib and Rosmah have been under intense scrutiny and criticism in light of the devastating floods in Malaysia as neither was present to help deal with the national crisis until much later.
Najib was also accused of sneaking off to play golf with US President Barack Obama until a Washington Post photograph of him and Obama on the greens forced Najib to explain it away as merely “golfing diplomacy”.
Cutting short his Hawaii trip all the same, criticism reached new heights when the focus turned to Rosmah instead, with many questioning her absence in the country and that of the government jet.
Photos of a woman resembling Rosmah shopping in upmarket Bangkok Central Chidlom Mall later surfaced online, with many stating their disbelief that the first lady was not by her husband’s side delivering aid or meeting with flood victims back home.
They are not doing this with East- timor delegates but it is just piece of low class mentality that they want to show other. This country will appear as Pakistan , Sudan and Somalia one day.
KUALA KANGSAR: A brief commotion occurred outside the Amanah operations centre here on Wednesday when an aide to Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor showed up for the press conference by PKR vice-president Rafizi Ramli.
Among
others, the prominent newspaper pointed to a series of photos of
Najib's wife Rosmah Mansor with a range of expensive handbags that had
gone viral on social media.
