First Lady of Malaysia
Encyclopedia
Spouse of the Prime Minister of Malaysia refers to the spouse of the head of government
of Malaysia, the Prime Minister
. Since independence in 1957, the title has been occupied by women, therefore the spouse is also known as the Prime Minister's wife. The term "First Lady" has also been used to refer to the Prime Minister's spouse, mirroring American
usage
, however this is controversial due to Malaysia being a constitutional monarchy
.
The spouse of the current Prime Minister of Malaysia (Najib Tun Razak
) is Datin Paduka Seri Rosmah Mansor
.
The spouse of the Prime Minister of Malaysia is not an elected position, carries no official duties, and brings no salary. However, she does receive some allowance as recognition of her time and energy put into being the spouse of the Prime Minister of Malaysia.
As the spouse of the Prime Minister of Malaysia, she attends many official ceremonies and functions of state either along with or representing the Prime Minister. There is a strict taboo
against the spouse holding outside employment while serving as spouse of the Prime Minister of Malaysia.
Following the Asian value system, where the woman is the guiding light and pillar of the household, the spouse also represents family values and is taken as a motherly.
The spouse of the Prime Minister of Malaysia frequently participates in humanitarian and charitable
work. It became increasingly common for spouses of heads of state or government to select specific causes to promote, usually ones that are not politically divisive. It is common for the spouse of the Prime Minister of Malaysia to form organisations and hire a staff to support these activities.
is the wife of current Prime Minister of Malaysia
- Najib Razak. She is known for her charitable efforts in advancing child education and development through a nurturing program known as Permata. The First Ladies Summit
hosted by her had similar ideals with her aspirations to advance childcare development.
Rosmah Mansor
is also active in various national organizations. She is currently the Acting President of BAKTI, the Welfare Association of Minister’s Wives, the President of the Netball Association of Wilayah Persekutuan, as well as the Patron of other organizations like the Children in Hope Foundation, Puspanita Ministry of Defence, Heart to Heart Association of Malaysia, the Persatuan Warga Cinta Negara Malaysia and the Thalesemia Association of Malaysia; and member of the Board of Trustees, Malaysian Humanitarian Foundation.
, the monarchy are theoretically deemed constitutional figureheads within the framework of a constitutional monarchy
. However, it is argued that Article 32(2) of the Constitution of Malaysia
stipulates that the Consort of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong
takes precedence over all individuals in the federation and is second only to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong
himself. Hence, it is argued that the Raja Permaisuri Agong
is rightfully the First Lady of Malaysia.
The assumed "First Lady" title is challenged by certain quarters on the premise that Malaysia is not a Republic
. Hence, the technical legality of such a status is challenged.
During Abdullah Ahmad Badawi
's premiership, there has not been a precedent in Malaysia where someone other than the wife of the Prime Minister served as First Lady. While the Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi
's first late wife, Tun Endon Mahmood Ambak underwent treatment for breast cancer
in the United States
, the title of "First Lady" was not officially designated.
The issue was brought up only during the premiership of Najib Tun Razak when his wife
widely used the title of "First Lady". Many quarters either argue that it is reserved for the Raja Permaisuri Agong
, or that it should never be used at all due to Malaysia not being a republic.
The issue didn't stop there as there was a mysterious new unit established within the Prime Minister's Department
with the acronym F.L.O.M (First Lady of Malaysia) Unit. Datuk Siti Azizah binti Sheikh Abod was the Special Officer for the unit. The news on FLOM was widely covered by many bloggers with their own stories and analysis. This led to the government webpage containing the information of the contacts in FLOM department to be removed a few days after the story came out. However some search engines managed to store the cached versionof the. Many groups questioned the validity and functionality of the department. There were also some queries, especially in the Malaysian Parliament, on how much allocation from the National Budget was allocated for the department.
Head of government
Head of government is the chief officer of the executive branch of a government, often presiding over a cabinet. In a parliamentary system, the head of government is often styled prime minister, chief minister, premier, etc...
of Malaysia, the Prime Minister
Prime Minister of Malaysia
The Prime Minister of Malaysia is the indirectly elected head of government of Malaysia. He is officially appointed by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, the head of state, who in HM's judgment is likely to command the confidence of the majority of the members of that House of Representatives , the...
. Since independence in 1957, the title has been occupied by women, therefore the spouse is also known as the Prime Minister's wife. The term "First Lady" has also been used to refer to the Prime Minister's spouse, mirroring American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
usage
First Lady of the United States
First Lady of the United States is the title of the hostess of the White House. Because this position is traditionally filled by the wife of the president of the United States, the title is most often applied to the wife of a sitting president. The current first lady is Michelle Obama.-Current:The...
, however this is controversial due to Malaysia being a constitutional monarchy
Constitutional monarchy
Constitutional monarchy is a form of government in which a monarch acts as head of state within the parameters of a constitution, whether it be a written, uncodified or blended constitution...
.
The spouse of the current Prime Minister of Malaysia (Najib Tun Razak
Najib Tun Razak
Dato' Sri Haji Mohd Najib bin Tun Haji Abdul Razak is the sixth, and since 2009, Prime Minister of Malaysia. He previously held the post of Deputy Prime Minister from 7 January 2004 until he succeeded Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi as Prime Minister on 3 April 2009. Najib is President of the United...
) is Datin Paduka Seri Rosmah Mansor
Rosmah Mansor
Datin Paduka Seri Rosmah Mansor is the current wife of the 6th Prime Minister of Malaysia, Dato' Seri Najib Tun Razak.-Early life:Rosmah Mansor was brought up in Seremban, Negeri Sembilan. She had secondary education in Tunku Kurshiah College , Seremban, Negeri Sembilan. She was touted to have...
.
Role of the spouse of the Prime Minister of Malaysia
The spouse of the Prime Minister of Malaysia is not an elected position, carries no official duties, and brings no salary. However, she does receive some allowance as recognition of her time and energy put into being the spouse of the Prime Minister of Malaysia.
As the spouse of the Prime Minister of Malaysia, she attends many official ceremonies and functions of state either along with or representing the Prime Minister. There is a strict taboo
Taboo
A taboo is a strong social prohibition relating to any area of human activity or social custom that is sacred and or forbidden based on moral judgment, religious beliefs and or scientific consensus. Breaking the taboo is usually considered objectionable or abhorrent by society...
against the spouse holding outside employment while serving as spouse of the Prime Minister of Malaysia.
Following the Asian value system, where the woman is the guiding light and pillar of the household, the spouse also represents family values and is taken as a motherly.
The spouse of the Prime Minister of Malaysia frequently participates in humanitarian and charitable
Alms
Alms or almsgiving is a religious rite which, in general, involves giving materially to another as an act of religious virtue.It exists in a number of religions. In Philippine Regions, alms are given as charity to benefit the poor. In Buddhism, alms are given by lay people to monks and nuns to...
work. It became increasingly common for spouses of heads of state or government to select specific causes to promote, usually ones that are not politically divisive. It is common for the spouse of the Prime Minister of Malaysia to form organisations and hire a staff to support these activities.
Background
Rosmah MansorRosmah Mansor
Datin Paduka Seri Rosmah Mansor is the current wife of the 6th Prime Minister of Malaysia, Dato' Seri Najib Tun Razak.-Early life:Rosmah Mansor was brought up in Seremban, Negeri Sembilan. She had secondary education in Tunku Kurshiah College , Seremban, Negeri Sembilan. She was touted to have...
is the wife of current Prime Minister of Malaysia
Prime Minister of Malaysia
The Prime Minister of Malaysia is the indirectly elected head of government of Malaysia. He is officially appointed by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, the head of state, who in HM's judgment is likely to command the confidence of the majority of the members of that House of Representatives , the...
- Najib Razak. She is known for her charitable efforts in advancing child education and development through a nurturing program known as Permata. The First Ladies Summit
First Ladies Summit
The First Ladies Summit was officially established in 2010, with Malaysia playing the inaugural host for this biennial event. It aims to gather First Ladies around the world to support a global initiative to ensure a safe and sustainable future for the next generation. The theme of the summit is "A...
hosted by her had similar ideals with her aspirations to advance childcare development.
Rosmah Mansor
Rosmah Mansor
Datin Paduka Seri Rosmah Mansor is the current wife of the 6th Prime Minister of Malaysia, Dato' Seri Najib Tun Razak.-Early life:Rosmah Mansor was brought up in Seremban, Negeri Sembilan. She had secondary education in Tunku Kurshiah College , Seremban, Negeri Sembilan. She was touted to have...
is also active in various national organizations. She is currently the Acting President of BAKTI, the Welfare Association of Minister’s Wives, the President of the Netball Association of Wilayah Persekutuan, as well as the Patron of other organizations like the Children in Hope Foundation, Puspanita Ministry of Defence, Heart to Heart Association of Malaysia, the Persatuan Warga Cinta Negara Malaysia and the Thalesemia Association of Malaysia; and member of the Board of Trustees, Malaysian Humanitarian Foundation.
List of the spouse of the Prime Minister of Malaysia
| # | The Spouse | From | To | Prime Minister |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Sharifah Rodziah Syed Alwi Barakbah Sharifah Rodziah Syed Alwi Barakbah Tun Sharifah Rodziah binti Syed Alwi Barakbah was the third wife of Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj, the founding father and first Prime Minister of Malaysia.... |
1957 | 1970 | Tunku Abdul Rahman Tunku Abdul Rahman Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj ibni Almarhum Sultan Abdul Hamid Halim Shah, AC, CH was Chief Minister of the Federation of Malaya from 1955, and the country's first Prime Minister from independence in 1957. He remained as the Prime Minister after Sabah, Sarawak, and Singapore joined the... |
| 2. | Tun Rahah Noah Rahah Noah Tun Rahah binti Tan Sri Mohammad Noah is the widow of former Malaysian Prime Minister Tun Abdul Razak and the mother of current Prime Minister Najib Razak. She is the daughter of Mohamad Noah Omar, former Speaker of the Dewan Rakyat.-Biography:... |
1970 | 1976 | Tun Abdul Razak |
| 3. | Toh Puan Suhaila Noah Suhaila Noah Tun Suhaila binti Tan Sri Mohammad Noah is the widow of former Malaysian Prime Minister Tun Hussein Onn and the mother of current Minister of Home Affairs Hishamuddin Hussein. She is the daughter of Mohamad Noah Omar, former Speaker of the Dewan Rakyat.... |
1976 | 1981 | Tun Hussein Onn Hussein Onn Tun Hussein bin Dato' Onn who is of 3/4 Malay and 1/4 Circassian ancestry was the third Prime Minister of Malaysia, ruling from 1976 to 1981. He was granted the soubriquet Bapa Perpaduan... |
| 4. | Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Mohamad Ali Siti Hasmah Tun Dr. Siti Hasmah binti Haji Mohamad Ali is the wife of the 4th Prime Minister of Malaysia, Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad. She served as wife of the Prime Minister of Malaysia for 23 years from 1981–2003.... |
1981 | 2003 | Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad |
| 5. | Tun Endon Mahmood Ambak Endon Mahmood Tun Endon Mahmood Ambak was the first wife of the 5th Prime Minister of Malaysia, Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi. She died from breast cancer on 20 October 2005.She was also known as Kak Endon.-Early life:... |
2003 | 2005 | Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi Abdullah Ahmad Badawi Tun Abdullah bin Haji Ahmad Badawi is a Malaysian politician who served as Prime Minister from 2003 to 2009. He was also the President of the United Malays National Organisation , the largest political party in Malaysia, and led the governing Barisan Nasional parliamentary coalition... |
| 6. | Tun Jeanne Abdullah Jeanne Abdullah Tun Jeanne Abdullah née Danker is the current wife of former Prime Minister of Malaysia, Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi. She married Abdullah Badawi while he was in office. She was his second wife after the death of the Badawi's first wife, Endon Mahmood.... |
2007 | 2009 | Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi Abdullah Ahmad Badawi Tun Abdullah bin Haji Ahmad Badawi is a Malaysian politician who served as Prime Minister from 2003 to 2009. He was also the President of the United Malays National Organisation , the largest political party in Malaysia, and led the governing Barisan Nasional parliamentary coalition... |
| 7. | Datin Paduka Seri Rosmah Mansor Rosmah Mansor Datin Paduka Seri Rosmah Mansor is the current wife of the 6th Prime Minister of Malaysia, Dato' Seri Najib Tun Razak.-Early life:Rosmah Mansor was brought up in Seremban, Negeri Sembilan. She had secondary education in Tunku Kurshiah College , Seremban, Negeri Sembilan. She was touted to have... |
2009 | Incumbent | Dato' Seri Najib Tun Razak Najib Tun Razak Dato' Sri Haji Mohd Najib bin Tun Haji Abdul Razak is the sixth, and since 2009, Prime Minister of Malaysia. He previously held the post of Deputy Prime Minister from 7 January 2004 until he succeeded Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi as Prime Minister on 3 April 2009. Najib is President of the United... |
Controversy over the usage of the title "First Lady"
Although Malaysia is not an absolute monarchyAbsolute monarchy
Absolute monarchy is a monarchical form of government in which the monarch exercises ultimate governing authority as head of state and head of government, his or her power not being limited by a constitution or by the law. An absolute monarch thus wields unrestricted political power over the...
, the monarchy are theoretically deemed constitutional figureheads within the framework of a constitutional monarchy
Constitutional monarchy
Constitutional monarchy is a form of government in which a monarch acts as head of state within the parameters of a constitution, whether it be a written, uncodified or blended constitution...
. However, it is argued that Article 32(2) of the Constitution of Malaysia
Constitution of Malaysia
The Federal Constitution of Malaysia, which came into force in 1957, is the supreme law of Malaysia. The Federation was initially called the Federation of Malaya and it adopted its present name, Malaysia, when the States of Sabah, Sarawak and Singapore joined the Federation...
stipulates that the Consort of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong
Yang di-Pertuan Agong
The Yang di-Pertuan Agong is the head of state of Malaysia. The office was established in 1957 when the Federation of Malaya gained independence....
takes precedence over all individuals in the federation and is second only to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong
Yang di-Pertuan Agong
The Yang di-Pertuan Agong is the head of state of Malaysia. The office was established in 1957 when the Federation of Malaya gained independence....
himself. Hence, it is argued that the Raja Permaisuri Agong
Raja Permaisuri Agong
Raja Permaisuri Agong, or in full, Seri Paduka Baginda Raja Permaisuri Agong, is the title given to the Queen of Malaysia, consort of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.The holders of this office have been:...
is rightfully the First Lady of Malaysia.
The assumed "First Lady" title is challenged by certain quarters on the premise that Malaysia is not a Republic
Republic
A republic is a form of government in which the people, or some significant portion of them, have supreme control over the government and where offices of state are elected or chosen by elected people. In modern times, a common simplified definition of a republic is a government where the head of...
. Hence, the technical legality of such a status is challenged.
During Abdullah Ahmad Badawi
Abdullah Ahmad Badawi
Tun Abdullah bin Haji Ahmad Badawi is a Malaysian politician who served as Prime Minister from 2003 to 2009. He was also the President of the United Malays National Organisation , the largest political party in Malaysia, and led the governing Barisan Nasional parliamentary coalition...
's premiership, there has not been a precedent in Malaysia where someone other than the wife of the Prime Minister served as First Lady. While the Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi
Abdullah Ahmad Badawi
Tun Abdullah bin Haji Ahmad Badawi is a Malaysian politician who served as Prime Minister from 2003 to 2009. He was also the President of the United Malays National Organisation , the largest political party in Malaysia, and led the governing Barisan Nasional parliamentary coalition...
's first late wife, Tun Endon Mahmood Ambak underwent treatment for breast cancer
Breast cancer
Breast cancer is cancer originating from breast tissue, most commonly from the inner lining of milk ducts or the lobules that supply the ducts with milk. Cancers originating from ducts are known as ductal carcinomas; those originating from lobules are known as lobular carcinomas...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, the title of "First Lady" was not officially designated.
The issue was brought up only during the premiership of Najib Tun Razak when his wife
Rosmah Mansor
Datin Paduka Seri Rosmah Mansor is the current wife of the 6th Prime Minister of Malaysia, Dato' Seri Najib Tun Razak.-Early life:Rosmah Mansor was brought up in Seremban, Negeri Sembilan. She had secondary education in Tunku Kurshiah College , Seremban, Negeri Sembilan. She was touted to have...
widely used the title of "First Lady". Many quarters either argue that it is reserved for the Raja Permaisuri Agong
Raja Permaisuri Agong
Raja Permaisuri Agong, or in full, Seri Paduka Baginda Raja Permaisuri Agong, is the title given to the Queen of Malaysia, consort of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.The holders of this office have been:...
, or that it should never be used at all due to Malaysia not being a republic.
The issue didn't stop there as there was a mysterious new unit established within the Prime Minister's Department
Prime Minister's Department
The Prime Minister's Department is a federal government ministry in Malaysia. It is headed by the Prime Minister of Malaysia followed by other ministers in the Prime Minister's Department. The Department consists of the Prime Minister's Office, the Deputy Prime Minister's Office and more than 50...
with the acronym F.L.O.M (First Lady of Malaysia) Unit. Datuk Siti Azizah binti Sheikh Abod was the Special Officer for the unit. The news on FLOM was widely covered by many bloggers with their own stories and analysis. This led to the government webpage containing the information of the contacts in FLOM department to be removed a few days after the story came out. However some search engines managed to store the cached versionof the. Many groups questioned the validity and functionality of the department. There were also some queries, especially in the Malaysian Parliament, on how much allocation from the National Budget was allocated for the department.