Follow The Leader ('s wife...)

Malaysiakini reported yesterday:

M'sian missions going 'overboard' for VIP wives?

Deputy Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak has rejected allegations that his wife, Rosmah Mansor, was given special treatment by M'sian embassies abroad.

Mohd Azmin Ali (PKR-Gombak) raised this issue at the Dewan Rakyat yesterday with emphasis on Rosmah, who allegedly went on luxury shopping sprees, with her large purchases transported back home at the expense of the Malaysian embassy in London and national carrier MAS.

Her infamous behaviours finally catching up on his political reputation, it seems. About time, too. I wonder if MAS had a chapter on her in their turnaround strategy?

The issue began during the Supplementary Supply Bill debate, when Azmin highlighted reports he received.

"The complaint that we have received is that many of the officers at the embassies abroad are ordered to receive these pembesar (VIPs) and their wives even when they are holidaying," he said.

"Certain personalities among the wives of cabinet ministers spend huge sums, go on shopping sprees for luxuries, refuse to pay taxes at the airport or to MAS, and the foreign affairs ministry has to bear the said expenses," he added.

This, he summed up, made the embassy neglect their official obligations.

Spot on. While I don’t doubt there are officials just jumping at the opportunity to skimp on work to kiss-(large)ass and carry shopping bags, there are also many who just want to do their work.

Najib added that Azmin was being "petty and frivolous".

No, he's not. That's tax payers' money paying for your wife's shopping's shipping cost.

Also, this unfortunate trend cascades down to the Government-Linked Companies (GLCs). Wives of top management executives travel overseas on company expenses under the guise of "Charity Work", and are accompanied for days by an entourage of officers from the company's country offices.

Agendas for these trips include (after the 1/2 hour mock cheque presentation ceremony), sightseeing to touristy places, fine dining, shopping and entertainment.

What, no need to work one ah?

Didn’t you guys way out there in the Kingdom of Oz - er, Putrajaya, form a committee on work performance in GLCs?

“Catalysing GLC Transformation to Advance Malaysia’s Development”, you all fancily described it.

The transformation of Government-Linked Companies (GLCs) into high-performing entities is critical for the future prosperity of Malaysia. To facilitate this transformation, the Putrajaya Committee on GLC High Performance (PCG) was set up.

Good stuff. You do know that GLCs are almost mini versions of the government, in many ways? They will do as you do, and their Datins and Puan Sris will do as your Datins and Puan Sris do.

How to crack the whip on the workers when they can (rightly) turn around and point fingers at your cash-flinging wife?