Najib’s Wife Allegedly Paid $32,800 a Month to a Group of People to Defend Her on Social Media

How far would you go to protect your own image in public?

And how much would you pay to safeguard your reputation on the net?

Now, while these questions may seem impertinent to the most casual of folks, they certainly seem to be of utmost importance to the wife of former Malaysian premier Najib Razak…

Seeing how she’s said to have forked out a whopping RM100,000 (S$32,800) a month, to have a team of “cyber troopers” monitor content on social media and protect her against online attacks.

Well, that’s certainly a big price to pay for a squeaky clean image, alright.

Najib’s Wife Allegedly Paid $32,800 a Month to a Group of People to Defend Her on Social Media

According to The Straits Times, a former aide to Rosmah Mansor, the wife of former Malaysian premier Najib Razak, has claimed that he received RM100,000 (S$32,900) a month to safeguard her interests on the net.

The notion was revealed in court, during the corruption trial of Rosmah.

According to the witness, he was paid to finance a team of “cyber troopers” back in 2012. The team was supposedly chartered to monitor content on social media and safeguard Rosmah’s interests in light of online attacks.

“This team was also responsible for countering and providing explanation to every slander, assertion and accusation towards Datin Seri Rosmah to the public,” said Datuk Rizal Mansor, who is not related to Rosmah.

His main responsibilities entailed the protection of Rosmah’s image and reputation, as she was reportedly under close scrutiny by the public.

Apparently, Rosmah was often connected to negative public perceptions, such as being the real puppet behind Najib and for living a particularly extravagant lifestyle.

Corruption Trial

According to the same report, Rosmah, 69, is currently facing a legal charge for supposedly soliciting RM187.5 million, as well as two counts of accepting a bribe of RM6.5 million to help a company, Jepak Holdings, attain a RM1.25 billion solar project for schools in Sarawak.

Mr Rizal himself was initially charged for his involvement with Rosmah over the same project, but has since been acquitted in January this year.

Apparently, the 21st prosecution witness was hired back in 2012 into a special department called the First Lady of Malaysia office.

He served for Rosmah until the middle of 2018, when the Barisan Nasional government lost its grasp of the throne.

He then fled Malaysia after the general election for fear of being arrested by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).

However, he eventually returned, and was arrested by agency when he reported to its office.

So… Think You’re Hardcore About Your Own Public Image?

Well, I think it’s safe to say that someone has you beat.

As a Wise Old Man once said:

“No matter how driven you are in preserving your online reputation…

“There will always be a Rosmah more hardcore than you.”

Read Also: Najib’s Lawyer Wants Government to Pay for Using Perm Markers to Write on Seized Rosmah’s Bags