PKR Wanita chief Zuraidah Kamaruddin today urged the prime minister's wife, Rosmah Mansor, to make a public apology for referring to herself as "first lady", as this is an act of treachery.

azlan "(The term) is inappropriate as according to the Article 32 of the federal constitution, it can only be used to refer to the Queen, as the wife of the highest ruler in the country," she said.

Zuraidah was referring to a two-page advertisement in the New York Times last month which congratulated 'Rosmah Mansor, First Lady of Malaysia' on being conferred the International Peace and Harmony Award 2010 ( above ).

The April 16 advertisement, which was reported on by national news wire Bernama , also attracted the attention of Malaysia Today , a website run by fugitive blogger Raja Petra Kamaruddin.

The website notes that the advertisement, which also reads 'Malaysia is proud of you' and features a large photograph of Rosmah, is estimated to cost about RM10 million.

Cost paid by 'well-wishers'

According to Bernama , the cost was borne by "well-wishers" comprising of Rosmah's "family and friends in USA and Malaysia".

kpg semarak scrap metal dealers dbkl memo zuraidah kamaruddin 121108 04 It added that Prime Minister Najib Razak's aide was not aware of it.

"(Rosmah's) frequent use of the term 'First Lady' is impolite and can be seen as an attempt to place herself above the royal institution," said Zuraidah ( left ), who is also Ampang MP.

"It is regrettable that a prime minister's wife can be so shallow in her political understanding that she places herself above the Queen, an act which can be read as treachery,"

She also advised Malaysians not to exemplify Rosmah's "rude behaviour".