KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has been urged to probe the astronomical amount spent on an advertisement placed in the New York Times regarding Rosmah Mansor, the wife of Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak.
The two-page spread in colour had described Rosmah as the “First Lady” of Malaysia and is speculated to have cost around RM1.5 million.
In a statement today, an opposition leader called on the anti-graft watchdog to sniff along the money trail to determine the source.
“MACC must immediately investigate where the money came from for the advertisement,” said PKR's Zuraida Kamaruddin, who is also the MP for Ampang.
The ad, placed in April during Najib's visit to the US, was to congratulate Rosmah for being conferred an international peace award.
It was signed, “Best wishes from family and friends in USA and Malaysia.”
'Placed on behalf of M'sian govt'
Zuraida said New York Times executive director Dianne McNulty had confirmed that the ad was placed by an advertising agency on behalf of the Malaysian government.
“And not by friends and family as stated in the advertisement,” she added.
“Looking at the figure (money involved), it is the responsibility of MACC to investigate this matter in the same manner it swings into action when it comes to Pakatan Rakyat-ruled states.
“I want the source (of the money) to be explained in order to establish that there was no abuse of public funds just to satisfy the 'lust' of those in power,” she said.
On the same issue, the PKR MP claimed that it was wrong to describe Rosmah as the "First Lady" of Malaysia, since this title belongs to the queen.
“This (the first lady description) was done based on the whims and fancies (of certain individuals) without referring to the constitution,” she said, adding that Article 32 is clear on this issue.
“I condemn the attempt to raise the status of an ordinary person to a much higher level, which is also an act of treachery against the royal institution in this country,” said Zuraida.
12/05/10
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