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'Accept the fact Rosmah is smart and brave'
Published:  May 22, 2015 5:12 PM
Updated: 1:23 PM

Rosmah Mansor's aide has chided former minister Zaid Ibrahim – calling him a "kangaroo" politician – for ridiculing Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak's wife.

 

Rizal Mansor said the ex-Umno politician has "forgotten his morals" and overlooked Rosmah's contributions to Malaysians in their moment of distress.

 

Rizal ( photo ) reminded him of the instrumental role Rosmah played in setting up Permata, an early education programme for children below four years of age.

He said the PM's wife also utilised her "maternal instinct" in helping the evacuation of Malaysian students from Egypt and Saudi Arabia at the height of the Arab Spring two years ago.

 

"He might have forgotten or did not read about our student who was detained in Egypt after being mistaken as a spy.

 

"Rosmah, without knowing the student, immediately called the wife of Egyptian president at that time (Suzanne Mubarak) and the student was freed two hours later," he said in a statement today.

"Surely, Zaid as a lawyer and former law minister would hop like a kangaroo and say this should be handled by Wisma Putra.

"Rosmah took the initiative based on her maternal instinct. Furthermore, the matter was settled without publicity," he added.

Zaid: Flaunting her wealth

Rizal was responding to Zaid's blog entry on May 18 titled "The People's PM", where the former minister listed the criteria necessary for a worthy prime minister.

 

The post also spelled out what kind of top leader Malaysians should avoid from voting for at the polls and gave examples pointing at Najib's 'achievements' such as being photographed with US President Barack Obama and British Prime Minister David Cameron.

 

Zaid ( photo ) did not mince his words in describing the qualities abhorred in a prime minister's wife, alluding to excesses which the first couple has been alleged with.

 

"Come the next general election, let's also be careful of the wife of the prime minister we want to select.

"She must not be the type who wants her own office in Putrajaya. We do not need a first lady—this is not America [...]

 

"We do not need a PM's wife who flaunts her wealth. There is no need to cause further pain to the rakyat, who have seen their spending power dip even lower in the wake of GST.

 

"We do not need to see our PM's wife travel the world in private jets while being draped with diamonds," he added.

 

'Making up myths, fantasies about Rosmah'

In the statement, Rizal said Zaid occupied his free time creating "fantasy stories and myths" about Rosmah.

 

He advised Zaid to focus on the positive side, as the safety and security of Malaysians are Rosmah's main priority.

"It is time for Zaid to come out from under the proverbial coconut shell and accept the fact that Rosmah is a smart and brave Muslim woman.

"She is also very vocal and savvy in making contacts and having close relationships with international VIPs for the sake of making our country famous in the international arena. Is this wrong, Zaid?" he asked.

Rizal defended the first lady, saying she is not the type to shy away from playing a leading role.

"Are you trying to say that a women can only be passive and stay in the kitchen? Dear Zaid, this is 2015 and women have the calibre and capacity equal to men," he said.

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