QUEEN HIGHER THAN 'FIRST LADY', SAYS PM

KUALA LUMPUR, June 16 (Bernama) -- The position of the Queen is higher than
the 'first lady' because Her Majesty's position is given priority as enshrined
in Article 32 (2) of the Federal Constitution, said Najib Tun Razak.

The Prime Minister said the notion that the 'first lady' referred to the
Queen was inaccurate.

He said the 'first lady' terminology did not exist in the Federal
Constitution, thus to equate the Queen with that terminology was
totally inaccurate.

"If there is and it is adopted, the 'first lady' in Malaysia must be placed
below the position of the Queen," he said in his written reply
to Tian Chua, a member of parliament at the House of Representatives sitting
Tuesday.

Article 32 (2) of the Federal Constitution states: The Consort of the King
(to be called the Queen) shall take precedence next after the King over all
other persons in the Federation.


"Based on the customs, culture, and protocol practices in Malaysia, the
title 'first lady' is not a practice. Many people are of the opinion that in the
Malaysian context, the tile refers to Seri Paduka Baginda Raja Permaisuri
Agong," said Najib.

In addition, Chua questioned on the government expenditure in placing the
advertisement in The New York Times on April 16 with regard to the Prime
Minister's wife Rosmah Mansor.

Najib explained that neither the government nor any of its agencies were
involved in placing the advertisement, whether in terms of planning, booking or
payment.

"The two-page advertisement had appeared in the newspaper concerned during
my visit to the United States (US) in April. The issue cropped up after a news
portal alleged that The New York Times had said that the advertisement was
placed by the Malaysian government," he said.

Najib said he was made to understand that the advertisement was placed by a
non-governmental organisation (NGO) in the United States in conjunction with the
award given to Rosmah for her efforts in humanitarian work and the struggles for
the education of children.


"I also understand that the NGO has already written a letter and clarified
to the New York Times and the news portal that the advertisement had nothing to
do with the Malaysian government. As such, I believe the question of cost to the
government does not arise and it is no longer a question," he said.

Meanwhile, a Minister in the Prime Minister's Department, Mohamed
Nazri Abdul Aziz said the total expenditure on the visit of the Prime Minister's
delegation to the US and Japan in April was RM1,887,268.13 (US$1=RM3.29).

"The total expenditure for the US visit for the Nuclear Security Summit held
on April 12 and 13 was RM1,461,732.17 and RM425,535.96 for the official visit to
Japan from April 18 to 21.

"The expenditure covers air fare, meal allowances, accommodation, vehicle
hire and various other expenses," he said in a written reply to Teresa Kok,
another MP here.

-- BERNAMA