ROSMAH Mansor is disappointed that people persist in thinking that Prime Minister Najib Razak is under her thumb just because he is a supportive husband.

Rosmah, who is president of the Association of Wives of Ministers and Deputy Ministers (Bakti) said Najib being supportive of her did not mean he was afraid of here.

“As a leader’s wife, our actions will always be misinterpreted even when we do something good. 

“As women, we have our rights. We have always raised issues regarding nurseries (at the workplace). I have always voiced (the idea of providing nurseries) to him (Najib). I used to work before. I understand (a mother’s situation).

“However, when my husband agreed to it (nurseries) after our discussions, people implied Najib had bowed to my wishes,” she said after a Maal Hijrah event organised by Bakti at the Siti Hasmah building in Kuala Lumpur.

Rosmah was referring to a project to set up day nurseries at offices to help working mothers.

She urged the audience not to blindly trust what was being said on social media because the reports were not always true.

“People say Najib is too afraid of Rosmah. (But) Even I have to see if his mood is okay before I speak with him. I have to see if he is occupied or not.

“Datuk Seri Najib is not afraid of me. What I proposed to him was practical, and I provided options. 

“So when we say something, it is not that our husbands are afraid of us but we do it to improve the lives of the people,” she said.

She also urged employers, especially those in the private sector, to provide day nurseries to assist their female employees.

“The private sector should not always focus on making a profit but they should also think of the welfare of their employees. If a nursery were to be provided at the workplace, mothers would be more focused on their work.”

Members of Bakti and Wives of Civil Servants and Women Civil Servants Association attended the talk, which also featured preacher Asmak Husin, who spoke about the respected women in Islam. – October 3, 2017.