VISIT TO OMAN SPONSORED BY OMAN GOVERNMENT, SAYS MALAYSIAN PM'S WIFE

PUTRAJAYA, Jan 26 (Bernama) -- The prime minister's wife Rosmah Mansor
Tuesday explained that her recent visit to Oman was fully sponsored by the
Oman government.

She said the Oman government also extended all the facilities to her and her
delegation of a number of Bakti (Welfare Body of Wives of Ministers and Deputy
Ministers) members, as well as paid for the aircraft fuel for the visit.

Rosmah said if her detractors had said all kinds of (negative) things about
her over the trip, they were only committing a sin.

Launching the "National Service Training: Catalyst for the 1Malaysia
Generation" programme here, she reiterated that her four-day visit to Aman was
at the invitation of Oman's Social Development Minister Dr Sharifa Bint Khalfan
Al Yahya'eyah and it was elevated to a state visit.

"When the Palace in Oman heard about my imminent visit, they decided to
extend all the facilities to me and took over the responsibility over my visit.

"What could I do? That was my good fortune. People on the other side
(detractors) should not be angry that my visit was elevated to a state visit,"
she said.

Rosmah said during her visit, Oman's Deputy Prime Minister Sayyid Fahad
Bin Mahmood Al-Said stated that Muslim countries in the Middle East regarded
Malaysia highly.

"If other countries view us highly, why the people in this country cannot
feel grateful for this.

"Ours is a multi-racial country, practices Islamic teachings, is a moderate
country and accepts everyone," she said.

During her visit, Rosmah also agreed with Sayyid Fahad's views that the
visit would pave the way for more visits at all levels and encourage business
and investment between the two countries, besides cooperation in education and
early childcare.