MALAYSIAN PM NAJIB LAUNCHES "THE THREE SWANS"

KUALA LUMPUR, May 31 (Bernama) -- Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak
today launched a book titled "The Three Swans" which traces the story of his
mother Rahah Mohamed Noah and aunts Suhailah and Fakhriah.

Najib said the three special women contributed a lot to the country's
nation-building process in their own way.

Rahah is the wife of the second prime minister of Malaysia Tun Abdul Razak
Hussein while her elder sister Suhailah is the wife of the third prime minister,
Tun Hussein Onn.

Their elder sister Fakhriah is the wife of Abdullah Ahmad, a former
district officer and the president of the then Johor Town Council.

"They are the wives of the country's prominent figures, giving support and
love and allow these leaders to carry out their duties for the country and at
the same time, managing the household well," he said when launching the book
written by his uncle Dr Fawzia Abdullah, who is the son of Fakhriah.



Present were Najib's wife Rosmah Mansor and Home Minister Hishammuddin Tun
Hussein, who is the son of Suhailah.

Najib said the book not only about the lives and times of the three women
but also about the country's history.

The prime minister hoped that future generations would find in the book
tales of hope and wonders and "hopefully life's lessons to be learnt and to
understand what the earlier generations had to endure and yet were still able to
advance in life."

The book traced the story of Mohd Noah's daughters from rural Muar and the
silent role played by these women who supported and complemented their husband's
work.

The 317-page book also captured how the three women lived in the newly
independent Malaysia, as the country tackled the socio-political realities of
the day.

"The Three Swans" is available at all major bookstores and is retailed at
RM80 (US$1=RM3.29) per copy.

-- BERNAMA