YOURSAY 'What is so degrading if you too had to cool your heels awhile at the airport like millions of other travellers do?'

Rosmah: Use of private jets for work, not fun

Changeagent: My personal opinion is that private jet is there to be used. And if it suits Rosmah Mansor's schedule better than commercial airlines, then let her use it.

However, the issue at hand isn't really about whether she should use the private jet or not. Rather, if she chooses this option, then either she or her husband should pay for the privilege out of their own pockets.

It is unacceptable, inappropriate and unreasonable to expect the public to foot the bill when she is not even an elected representative of the people.

Malaccan: If Rosmah says the trip was for work, it begs the question whose work is she doing? Is she doing the nation's work? If not, then she has no right to claim the use of the jet. If yes, then who employed her? Who elected her?

Any Tom, Dick and Harry can claim to work for national interest. They do not ask or demand to fly by government jet. Who is she accountable to if she cannot be questioned by the people's representatives?

If you do this for Allah as you claim. Good for you. But your claim is nothing to the nation. Do it on your own penny and Allah will bless you all the more for it.

What if the private jet has been there before her husband became PM? Since when is that reason for Rosmah to use it?

Whether in the corporate world or in public office, the unauthorised use of company's or national assets like this is simply abuse. The board or the cabinet cannot ratify what is substantively wrong in the first place and beyond their mandate.

SS Dhaliwal: Rosmah, two wrongs do not make a right. Such explanations on your part are befitting that of a kindergarten child and not a premiere's wife.

Such callous extravagances when taxes after taxes are being subjected to the common man who lives a hand-to-mouth existence, is not just scandalous but immoral.

Vijay47: Dear Puan Rosmah, pardon me if I do not address you as First Lady, because you are not. Since when did countries like Qatar, Dubai, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh not have regular commercial flights?

What is so degrading if you too had to cool your heels awhile at the airport like millions of other travellers do? Or even at some 24-star hotel as you no doubt are accustomed to?

We hardly see any need for you to be jetting about in private jets just because your husband happens to be the prime minister. Remember, apart from that matrimonial relationship, you are a big nobody in Malaysia.

While you are prancing about with pomp and splendour in extravagance to be paid for by us plebeians, the rest of the world does not even know the names of the wives of the prime ministers of the UK, France, India, China, Australia, Vietnam, Indonesia, or even Singapore.

You seem to be also suggesting that Malaysia's previous 'premier' wives were sleeping on the job. By the way, how about that trip to Kazakhstan?

CiViC: By justifying so, now everyone truly can fly! All ministers on official duties, and even those from opposition states should now request for the use of private jet whenever they are traveling for "work".

And for that matter, their wife as well should they get invited for official functions.

Gerard Lourdesamy: Does work include attending fashion shows, fundraising dinners and shopping sprees? Since when does the PM's wife represent the government and country abroad?

Granted, on official and working visits she can accompany her husband and use government facilities but not when she is travelling alone. What security threat is there against her abroad?

While the government tells the rakyat to tighten their belt and accept price increases despite incomes remaining stagnant, the PM and his extravagant wife lead a life of luxury and excess without any care in the world as to how the rakyat's hard-earned money is spent.

Both have become too arrogant and aloof. They are a disgrace to public office and deserve to be treated with utter contempt and disdain.

Multi Racial: The worst thing to do is to defend the in defendable. It is unfortunate that Najib used the Umno assembly to defend his wife instead of stopping her from using government money and facilities.

Proarte: We, the rakyat, did not elect her to any position. Surely those inviting her could foot the bill for transport. After all, if one is an indispensable superstar, apart from a generous fee, transport and accommodation costs are always factored in.

The next point is why is an unsalaried person representing the Malaysian government? Surely there are ministers elected to perform that role.

Rosmah must assure us that the next time she travels on unofficial functions and non-governmental functions, she must insist that those inviting her foot the bill for her exorbitant jet-setting lifestyle.

Wira: Rosmah, in view of tax increases, reducing subsidies and rocketing prices, your extravagance with taxpayers' money is making ordinary Malaysians hate you.

If a tight programme is prepared by the host then it is incumbent on them to provide the proper transportation to jet you from one location to another.

You only need to show yourself at an appointed airport at a certain time for your welcome. That's how former Singapore PM Lee Kuan Yew travels and he is a lot more respected internationally than you.

EvenSteven: The amount expended for these trips is enough to feed 20 families for a lifetime.

It's time she changed her lifestyle so that the poor can at least try freshly baked croissants instead of eating the excess day-old stuff.

Time for Najib to put his foot down

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