Boy, Rosmah Mansor’s name is everywhere these days.
Fresh off a new alleged USD6 million shopping spree scandal, the Malaysian Prime Minister’s wife is set to become a recipient of the Unesco ‘Lead by Example’ award at the 71st UN General Assembly to be held this week.
Malaysian National Commission for Unesco vice-president Datuk Seri Alias Ahmad, who is also the Education Ministry secretary-general, told news agency Bernama that the award is to recognise Rosmah’s contributions in helping to develop the potential of children via her Permata programme.
Oh, in case you were wondering, the Permata programme was founded in 2007 by Rosmah to provide a platform for children to unleash their potential and sharpen their skills.
“This recognition is also an honour for Malaysia for providing quality education for the holistic development of children,” Alias was quoted as saying.
According to Alias, the award ceremony will be held at the “A Tribute to Heroes in the Global Campaign Against Violent Extremism” event at the Metropolitan Museum of Arts in New York on Sept 22.
Besides Rosmah, other recipients of the awards include Senegal President Macky Sall and several individuals who championed for universal peace like Kenya’s Ayub Mohamud, Iraq’s Nadia Murad and Nicholas Kristof of the New York Times.
The award, however, came at a very weird timing as the 64-year-old Rosmah was in the center of new scandal as reports emerged that she allegedly spent US6 million (RM24 million) on clothes, shoes and jewellery between 2008 and 2015.
