I am happy and I will just do my work, Rosmah tells critics
The Prime Minister's wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor is not perturbed by the criticism she has drawn over her use of a government jet to attend the Qatar International Business Women Forum in Doha last week.
"I am happy and I will just do my work," she told reporters at a function in Sentul today.
When pressed further, she said: "I do not want to talk about it, I have no comment and I do not go down to that level."
Rosmah also told reporters to get an explanation from Datuk Siti Azizah Sheikh Abod, the special officer in the Prime Minister's Department, who was also at the function in Sentul today.
Azizah said Rosmah's trip to Qatar was in her capacity as the wife of the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.
"She was not there representing the government but was there in the interest of the government. This justifies the usage of the jet," she said.
Azizah added that they had used the proper channels to request for the jet. Their request was forwarded to the Foreign Affairs Ministry. The ministry then brought the matter to the Cabinet for approval.
"It was approved by the Cabinet," said Azizah, adding that the jet can be used by any VIP upon approval by the Cabinet.
When asked if the prime minister was present when the request was heard in Cabinet, Azizah said it was not important as the approval was based on a consensus and not given by an individual.
"It does not matter who was at the Cabinet when it was approved. And on the visit, she (Rosmah) was invited because she is the wife of the prime minister.
"She was not only there to give a keynote address at the forum but they also gave her an award," said Azizah.
Rosmah was in Doha last week to deliver a keynote address at the 4th Qatar International Business Women Forum organised by the Qatari Businesswomen Association and the Interactive Business Network.
Accompanying her were Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil, who is special adviser to the prime minister on women entrepreneurs and professionals; Datin Seri Siti Rubiah Datuk Abdul Samad, wife of Foreign Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Anifah Aman; Datin Seri Khamarzan Ahmad Meah, wife of International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed; and Datin Seri Che Kamariah Zakaria, wife of Second Education Minister Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh.
Pengerang MP Datuk Seri Azalina Othman, who had also accompanied Rosmah on the trip, had told Parliament yesterday that the invitation was not on a government-to-government basis but on a personal basis.
Azalina had added that Rosmah's delegation comprised senior government officials, the media and representatives from non-governmental organisations.
Opposition lawmakers, however, said that the Cabinet could not justify a decision that was clearly wrong.
Barisan Nasional MP for Tanjung Karang Datuk Seri Noh Omar, who jumped to Rosmah's defence, said Malaysians should be proud that Rosmah was given such recognition by the Qatar government, as not all the wives of leaders in the region were given such an honour.
Datuk Seri Jamaluddin Jarjis, the BN lawmaker for Rompin, said through the invitation, Rosmah had upheld the good name of Malaysia.
He criticised the opposition for making a huge fuss over the matter, saying that the Selangor government had also paid for adviser Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's overseas trips although Anwar was not an assemblyman.
Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim had gone a step further when he claimed that criticisms against Rosmah were "unfair" and would drive away investors.
"I am sad because everyone is creating hatred towards her. How many investors can you bring to Malaysia?" he had asked.
"Nothing! She has done so much for the country for free.
"She has built this country," Shahidan had said. - November 21, 2013.
