Allowing Rosmah on official jet an abuse of power, says Pakatan MPs

BY EILEEN NG
NOVEMBER 20, 2013

Opposition lawmakers have accused the Cabinet of acting irresponsibly and in an undignified manner for approving the use of a government jet for a recent trip by Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor (pic) to Qatar.

They said the decision was an abuse of power and interfered in the country's administration.

"If the prime minister can't attend,  then a minister or an ambassador can be sent in his stead, not his wife.

"When Obama was unable to come to Malaysia, he sent his representative, not his wife," PAS vice-president Datuk Mahfuz Omar said sarcastically, referring to the US President's cancellation of his Malaysian visit last month. In his place were US Secretary of State John Kerry and Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker.

Mahfuz, questioning Rosmah's credentials in representing the country, warned the Cabinet's decision was dangerous for the future of the country.

"This is a Cabinet without any dignity and highly irresponsible to make a decision based on one person instead of taking national interest into account," he said.

Rosmah was in Qatar last week to deliver a keynote address at the 4th Qatar International Business Women Forum in Doha, 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 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.

PKR Kelana Jaya MP Wong Chen said Rosmah was neither the country's representative nor ambassador.

"It sets a terrible precedent and shows no semblance of decency on the government's part," he charged.

DAP's Klang MP Charles Santiago said the Cabinet's decision was an abuse of power and waste of public resources.

"She is not an elected representative and giving her permission to fly on a government jet is an abuse of power.

"If she is accompanying the prime minister I would have understood but she was flying on her own to Qatar," he added, saying there was financial imprudence as well as an absence of clear protocols.

Putrajaya has defended Rosmah's use of the official jet, saying her trip was "fruitful".

"The outcome of the visit was very positive, we must be proud and thankful of the efforts and hardwork put in by the prime minister's wife.

"A visit to a foreign country is not for fun, it involved a lot of responsibilities," said Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim. - November 20, 2013.