COMMENT I find the explanation given by aide Rizal Mansor about Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak’s wife Rosmah Mansor ‘leading’ her husband during the jubilee National Day celebration in Singapore to be anything but plausible.

It is not that we enjoy taking another jab at the wife of the already embattled prime minister Najib Abdul Razak, but it is time that she should go for some lessons on protocol.

Her blunders are causing embarrassments to her, her husband, the party and the coalition that her husband leads, as well as the whole nation. I am sure those who use the social media to express their disappointment would say that the same.

Since occupying the office of the prime minister, Najib has received brickbats due to numerous embarrassments caused by Rosmah herself. Never has the wife of any other prime ministers in the country faced such ridicule from the people as Rosmah.

The wives of the first five prime ministers were all women of dignity. People respected them, despite the low profiles that they kept.

It is only Rosmah who has been getting the brickbats from my fellow citizens.

Previous blunders

As the wife of the prime minister, Rosmah cannot blame ordinary citizens who are sceptical. She has not performed her role as wife of the prime minister as well as others like Dr Siti Hasmah Mohamad Ali (who is now a Tun).

People may hate Dr Mahathir Mohamad, but they still respect Dr Siti Hasmah ( photo ), but people who respect Najib may find themselves asking how Rosmah could make such big blunders.

First, she referred herself as the first lady of Malaysia, as though she does not know the difference between the wife of a prime minister and a president.

This is shameful for the wife of a prime minister, especially when people are asking since when we have become a republic with a president and a first lady?

The second blunder which I came across recently was when she was in Beijing, accompanying Najib for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec 2014) meeting last year. Before the eyes of the whole world, she appeared to not know where to stand during the photograph session with Chinese president Xi Jinping.

‘A matter of seating arrangement’

Now, Rizal is telling us that the ‘episode’ in Singapore was a matter of seating arrangement. While it may be true, apparently the people are not impressed.

Did Rizal not realise that based on official protocol, it would look more proper for the wife of the prime minister to follow her husband and for the man to be seen taking the lead? Just imagine the aide de camp to Najib walking in front of him!

Even a former prime minister knows his position in official protocol. He would not walk in front of the sitting prime minister. Neither can the prime minister walk ahead of the sultan.

Even though Americans are least known for their protocols, even when President Barack Obama and his wife arrive at a destination in their executive jet, it is Obama who emerges from the door of the aircraft first.

Instead of trying to defend the indefensible, Rizal should realise that there are indeed protocols to be followed, and Najib was in Singapore on an official occasion. There were many other dignitaries from other countries in the region who were invited to the celebration.

To avoid getting all the brickbats and blaming the netizens for it, Rosmah should be more careful NOT to walk ahead of Najib, all the more since she knows that all cameras are on her all the time.

In fact, looking closely at the photograph, there is no reason why Rosmah could not walk behind Najib and still take her seat accordingly. There was plenty of space for the couple to manouvre around.

They should also coordinate their walking pace more carefully especially during official functions, instead of one walking way ahead, while the other appeared to be strolling along. This does not look well in the photograph, and it will surely get brickbats from the people.

In my opinion, Rosmah’s protocol blunders cannot be accepted. Najib should instead send her for more protocol sessions.

STEPHEN NG is an ordinary citizen with an avid interest in following political developments in the country since 2008.