If Rosmah Flies With The Government's VVIP Jet, Is There An Abuse Of Power?
The First Lady has landed herself in the centre of a jet query when it was revealed that she attended a personal invitation to Qatar in the government public jet.
Rosmah Not Perturbed By The Arguments Caused By Her Trip To Qatar
- 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.
[VIDEO] Rosmah's Controversial Trip To Qatar Sparks Chaos In Parliament
- 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 Went To Qatar Upon Invitation To Deliver A Key Note Address At A Women's Summit Last Week
- The Malaysian prime minister's wife, Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor arrived in Doha on 10 Nov evening to attend the 4th Qatar International Businesswomen Forum (4thQIBWF). Rosmah delivered a keynote address titled, 'The Empowerment of Malaysian Women' at the two-day international forum on Monday.
- The Malaysian delegation included Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil, who is special advisor to the prime minister on women entrepreneurs and professionals; Datin Seri Siti Rubiah Datuk Abdul Samad, wife of the 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.
Rosmah Flew In The Govt's VVIP Private Jet Usually Reserved For The Likes Of The Yang di-Pertuan Agong
- Rosmah, who was in Qatar last week to deliver a keynote address at the 4th Qatar International Business Women Forum in Doha, has come under fire for using the government jet to attend the forum.
- Minister in the Prime Minister (PM)'s department, Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim today was grilled over Prime Minister's wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor's use of VVIP jets reserved for the likes of the Yang Dipertuan Agong (YDPA).
- An opposition MP had asked if Rosmah was eligible to use the executive private jet paid by the government, and if she is fit to represent the country as she is not a politician.
PKR Vice President Azmin Ali Questioned The Cost Of The Govt Jet Used To Fly Rosmah And It Transpired Into A 20-Minute Long Argument
- The trip in question was to Qatar for the International Business Women Forum in Doha last week, which was brought up by PKR Vice-President Azmin Ali. The Gombak MP wanted to know specifically how much that trip with the jet cost the government.
- What transpired next was a 20-minute long argument ranging from whether Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak left the meeting when the decision was made and if Rosmah had the powers to represent Malaysia's government sentiments and interest in the international platforms.
- Shahidan however persistently refused to answer the question and merely replied that he could not simply devulge details of a Cabinet meeting as he was “bound by oath when taking office not to reveal government information”. Hanipa then stood up and argued that there this information was not sensitive and demanded answers. "Did he leave the meeting? We need to know. We`are merely asking what your PM and my PM did," he said.
Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim Defended The Cabinet's Decision, Saying It Was In The Interest Of The Country As She Represents Malaysia
- In reply, Shahidan said, “the prime minister’s wife represents the country, it is for the interest of the country that we allow her to do so.” He added that Rosmah is usually abroad to attend the spousal program which would be held in every international event.
- Minister in the Prime Minister Department Shahidan Kassim said the prime minister’s wife Rosmah Mansor is allowed to travel abroad with private jets belonging to the government should the cabinet endorse her trip.
- Shahidan said Rosmah received an official invitation to attend the event. "It was brought to cabinet for deliberation and it was an official visit based on the invitation from Qatar," he said.
- "This visit was made after being presented to the Cabinet. The Cabinet had approved this visit," he told newsmen at the Parliament lobby Tuesday. Shahidan then thanked Rosmah for the visit. "On behalf of the majority of MPs and Malaysians, we would like to thank the prime minister’s wife because the visit brought many benefits to the country," Shahidan added.
- “She must get approval from the cabinet. If we agree that it is an important visit, then we will allow her to travel with private jet,” he told the Dewan Rakyat today.
- "We have to be happy because another government has invited her to discuss so many issues, "Don't manipulate the matter. There was no extraordinary cost incurred (by the use of the jet). We brought the matter up in Cabinet and it was approved (the use of the jet and the trip)," he said.
PAS' MPs Says It Was A Conflict Of Interest For Najib Who Chaired The Cabinet Meeting To Approve Rosmah's Trip
- Khalid Samad (PAS- Shah Alam) and Hanipa Maidin (PAS- Sepang) however said the main issue is that she boarded a government jet to Qatar, and it is a conflict of interest for the prime minister who chaired the cabinet meeting to approve her trip.
Pengerang MP Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Says The Invitation From Qatar Was Made Personally To Rosmah, And Not On A Govt-to-Govt Basis
- Datuk Seri Rosmah Mansor was invited to the women's summit in Qatar in her personal capacity and it was not an invitation to the government, said Pengerang MP Datuk Seri Azalina Othman.
- "The invitation was not on a government-to-government basis but on a personal basis," Azalina said in Parliament today during the debate on Budget 2014.
PAS’ MP Mahfuz Omar Says The Cabinet is Irresponsible To Make A Decision In The Interest Of One Person
- The Cabinet’s decision to allow Rosmah Mansor to travel on a government jet for an official visit to Qatar signals that the prime minister’s wife is meddling in government affairs. Stating this at the Parliament lobby today, PAS’ Pokok Sena MP Mahfuz Omar said Rosmah has no capacity to represent the country, what more on an official visit to foreign soil.
- “The cabinet decision is pointing to the prime minister wife’s meddling in government affairs. This cabinet is irresponsible and without dignity in making decision in the interest of one person,” he said.
- Mahfuz said instead of sending the wife, the prime minister should have sent his minister or official to attend an important meeting. If the invitation is indeed addressed to the prime minister’s wife, then Rosmah should have gone without using the public resources, he added ‘Imagine the prime minister comes to the cabinet and says ‘hey, my wife needs to go overseas, please approve her trip’, how funny is that,” he told FMT after the media conference.
Yet It Was Revealed That Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin Was The One Who Approved The Use Of The Govt Jet
- Pengerang MP Datuk Seri Azalina Othman, who had accompanied Rosmah on that trip, revealed in Parliament that it was Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin who chaired the Cabinet meeting that approved the use of the government jet for the trip, and not Rosmah's husband, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak.
Several MPs, Including Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim, Say Malaysians Should Be Grateful And Proud Of The Honour Given To Rosmah By The Qatar Govt
- Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim: "As Malaysians, we should be proud and thankful for her initiative and effort as the PM's wife. We have to remember that visits to foreign countries are not for enjoyment but due to a sense of responsibility with everything conducted transparently.
- This did not stop Datuk Seri Noh Omar (BN-Tanjung Karang) who jumped to Rosmah's defence, saying that Malaysians should be proud that she was given such recognition by the Qatar government, as not all the wives of leaders in the region were given such an honour. "I don't understand why can't anyone appreciate this. This is always the case with the opposition. Those who make the country proud are treated as enemies, while those who bring down the name of the country are treated as heroes," he said.
Shahidan Also Said That It Was Cheaper To Fly Rosmah In A Private Govt Jet Than To Chartered Commercial Flight
- He slammed the opposition for insisting that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak use commercial flight for official trips, pointing out that it would result in a heftier bill than using government jets. "The opposition’s contention was illogical as it is more expensive to charter commercial flights," said Shahidan.
- Shahidan also said that it was cheaper to use private jet as commercial flights would incur a larger cost as the government would have to hire the plane for days in a row when there is an event. "Our jets are smaller. The commercial flights will have to be parked there at the event and engaging them for longer days will take-up a higher cost," he said.
Datuk Seri Jamaluddin Jarjis Says Even Anwar Ibrahim's Overseas Trip Were Also Paid By The State Govt
- He criticised the opposition for making a huge fuss over the matter, saying that Selangor adviser Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's overseas trips were also paid by the state government, despite Anwar not being a Selangor assemblyman.
- "I am confident Malaysians can see through this issue being brought by the opposition," he said.
