Rosmah craves “sambal belacan” when on holiday

The PM’s wife candidly speaks about her overseas travels at the launch of a guidebook on Malaysia.

KUALA LUMPUR: Rosmah Mansor, wife of Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak, spoke candidly about herself and her travels overseas at a book launch today.

“I prefer tourists who are willing to spend lavishly while on holiday in Malaysia as opposed to those who are particular about sticking to a tight budget,” she said when giving a speech at the launch of the travel guidebook called “The Guide to Malaysia”.

Creating good rapport with her audience, Rosmah also talked about food cravings while overseas and said that just like many other Malaysians who packed local favourites when travelling, she and her husband packed “sambal belacan”.

She said, “Eventually the cravings for ‘sambal belacan’ start no matter how good the food is overseas.”

In her speech, Rosmah also addressed the constant criticism that she controlled her husband, which she denied was true in any way.

Be that as it may, she said that to avoid more unwarranted criticism, she preferred to keep her thoughts and ideas to herself or share it with friends rather than confide in her husband.

Rosmah explained, “These days, I tend to confide in my friends more and not in Najib. But that’s only because if Najib took up any of my suggestions, word would get around that once again, I was putting thoughts into his head and controlling him.”

Also present at the launch of the 8th edition of “The Guide to Malaysia” was Michael Yeoh, chief executive officer of Asian Strategy & Leadership Institute (ASLI), the corporate distributor of the book.

Published by Leisure Guide Publishing Sdn Bhd, the 431-page book features everything “Malaysia” such as the country’s cultural heritage, shopping and fashion, nature spots, hotels and resorts.