Rosmah Mansor is the second wife of former Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak, who was ousted from power in 2018 amid a massive corruption scandal involving state investment fund 1MDB.
Rosmah, known for her lavish lifestyle and love of luxury goods, has also been convicted of corruption and faces other charges of money laundering and tax evasion.
She is a controversial figure in Malaysian politics and society, often criticised for her lavish spending, alleged involvement in the murder of a Mongolian model and her influence over her husband’s administration.
File
- Full name: Rosmah Mansor
- Date of birth: December 10, 1951
- Age: 72 years old
- Gender: Female
- Place of birth: Kuala Pilah, Negeri Sembilan, Federation of Malaya (now Malaysia)
- Nationality: Malaysian
- Occupation: Former First Lady of Malaysia, patron of many associations and charities
- Height: 173 cm
- Parents: Mansor bin Haji Ahmad and Azizah binti Daud
- Siblings: None
- Spouse: Abdul Aziz Nong Chik (divorced), Najib Razak (married since 1987)
- Children: Riza Aziz and Azrene Soraya (from first marriage), Nooryana Najwa and Mohd Norashman (from second marriage)
- Relationship status: Married
- Net worth: $110 million
Early life and education
Aged 72 as of 2023, Rosmah Mansor was born on 10 December 1951 in Kuala Pilah, Negeri Sembilan, Federation of Malaya (now Malaysia).
She is the only child of Mansor bin Haji Ahmad, a school teacher, and Azizah binti Daud, a housewife.
She attended secondary school at Kolej Tunku Kurshiah, an elite girls’ boarding school in Negeri Sembilan.
She was an active student, involved in various clubs and societies and excelled in academics and sports. She is now 72 years old.
Rosmah pursued higher education at the University of Malaya, graduating with a BA in Sociology and Anthropology in 1974. She then continued her studies at Louisiana State University in the United States, obtaining a MA in Sociology and Agricultural Extension in 1978.
She returned to Malaysia and joined the Agricultural Bank of Malaysia as an executive director in 1975. She worked as a Business Development Manager at Island and Peninsular Berhad, a property development company, until 1987.
Personal life
Rosmah Mansor has been married twice. Her first marriage was to Abdul Aziz Nong Chik, a businessman and politician, in 1976. They had two children, Riza Aziz, a film producer, and Azrene Soraya, a company executive. They divorced in 1987.
Her second marriage was to Najib Razak, a rising star of the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO), Malaysia’s dominant party, in 1987. Najib was then Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports and Deputy Chief of UMNO’s Youth Committee.
They have two children: Nooryana Najwa, a businesswoman, and Mohd Norashman, a businessman.
Rosmah became Malaysia’s first lady when Najib became Prime Minister in 2009, succeeding Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.
As First Lady, Rosmah is involved in many social and humanitarian causes such as education, health, women’s empowerment, arts and culture.
She is the president of the Ministers’ Wives Welfare Association (BAKTI), president of the Girl Guides Association of Malaysia and patron of several charities and foundations.
She also initiated PERMATA, an early childhood education and care program, which was later expanded to include gifted children, performing arts, and Islamic studies.
Rosmah and Najib’s marriage has been the subject of much speculation and controversy, especially after the 1MDB scandal broke, which involved both men embezzling billions of dollars from state funds.
Rosmah is accused of using the stolen money to buy expensive jewellery, handbags, clothes and other luxury items, and influencing her husband’s decisions and appointments.
She was also linked to the murder of Shaariibuugiin Altantuyaa, a Mongolian model and translator who was allegedly involved in a deal to buy submarines from France and was killed by two of Najib’s bodyguards in 2006.
Rosmah and Najib were arrested and charged with multiple counts of corruption, money laundering and tax evasion after they lost the 2018 general election to an opposition coalition led by Mahathir Mohamad, Najib’s former mentor and predecessor.
Rosmah was convicted of three counts of corruption related to a solar power project for rural schools in Sarawak and sentenced to 10 years in prison and a $303 million fine in 2022. She is out on bail pending an appeal and faces 17 other charges of money laundering and tax evasion.
Najib was also convicted of seven counts of corruption related to the 1MDB scandal and sentenced to 12 years in prison and a $50 million fine in 2020. He is also appealing his sentence and faces four other corruption trials.
Career
Rosmah Mansor does not hold any official position or office in the government or private sector. However, she is still considered a powerful and influential figure in Malaysian politics and society, especially during her husband’s tenure as Prime Minister.
She has been described as “the real power behind the throne,” female “queen,” and “mother of all corruption” by her critics and opponents, who accused her of interfering in state affairs, appointing close associates and misusing public funds.
Rosmah is also involved in many initiatives and projects related to social and humanitarian issues, such as education, health, women’s empowerment, arts and culture.
She is the president of the Ministers’ Wives Welfare Association (BAKTI), president of the Girl Guides Association of Malaysia and patron of several charities and foundations.
She also initiated PERMATA, an early childhood education and care program, which was later expanded to include gifted children, performing arts, and Islamic studies.
Rosmah has received several awards and honors for her contributions to society, including the Global Peace Prize from the International Peace Foundation, the Lifetime Achievement Award from BrandLaureate, and an Honorary Doctorate of Education from Universiti Teknologi MARA.
She has also received several honorary degrees from foreign universities, such as Curtin University of Technology, the University of Queensland and Jeju National University.
Argumentative
Rosmah Mansor has been embroiled in many controversies and scandals throughout her life, especially during her husband’s tenure as Prime Minister.
Some of the most notable are:
The 1MDB scandal has implicated her and her husband in embezzling billions of dollars from state funds and buying expensive and luxury items with the stolen money.
The scandal sparked public outrage and protests and led to the fall of their government in the 2018 general election.
The murder of Shaariibuugiin Altantuyaa, a Mongolian model and translator who was allegedly involved in a deal to buy submarines from France and was killed by two of Najib’s bodyguards in 2006.
Rosmah was accused of ordering the murder and having an affair with Altantuyaa’s former lover, Abdul Razak Baginda, a close associate of Najib, who was also charged with abetting the murder but was later acquitted.
Rosmah and her family’s lavish lifestyle and spending habits stand in contrast to the economic hardships and rising cost of living that many Malaysians are facing.
Rosmah has been criticised for owning hundreds of handbags, jewellery, clothes and other luxury items, some of which were gifts from foreign dignitaries and businessmen.
She has also been criticised for using public money and resources for personal and family trips, events and activities, such as chartering private jets, chartering yachts and hosting wedding receptions.
Rosmah’s alleged influence and interference in state affairs, appointments and decisions have undermined the democratic system and rule of law in Malaysia.
Ms Rosmah is accused of interfering in many ministries, agencies and organisations such as the police, judiciary, anti-corruption commission and media.
She has also been accused of appointing close associates, relatives and loyalists to key positions and contracts, and of silencing and harassing her critics.
Social media
- Instagram Name: None
- Twitter Username: None
Net worth
According to some sources, Rosmah Mansor’s net worth is estimated to be over $110 million.
However, this figure may not reflect her true wealth, as she and her husband have been accused of embezzling billions of dollars from state fund 1MDB and spending it on lavish purchases such as jewelry, handbags, clothes and other luxury items.
Authorities seized some of these items as part of their investigation and prosecution. Rosmah has also been fined $303 million for corruption and faces other charges of money laundering and tax evasion, which could impact her future net worth.
