Leaders' wives must go down to field to help people, husbands - Rosmah

Wife of the prime minister, Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor urges members of the Welfare Association of Wives of Ministers and Deputy Ministers (Bakti) to help their husbands by going down to the field to listen to the problems of the people.

Rosmah, who is also Bakti president, said the members of the charity body must carry it out voluntarily and with full sincerity to enable them to obtain information from the ground and were able to solve the problems of the people.

"Most importantly, when going down to the field to meet the people, we must be sincere and voluntarily.

"For me, if we have a realisation to help the people, the desire to do so will come naturally without any coercion," she said at the 40th Bakti annual general meeting at its official building here today.

The meeting which was attended by 70 Bakti members was opened by Higher Education Deputy Minister Datuk Mary Yap Kain Ching.

Rosmah also said it was normal for Bakti members as wives of the national leaders to face numerous slanders and accusations when carrying out their duties and responsibilities.

"But, it is our responsibility to defend the good name of our husbands and families.

"This also includes defending the good names of the parties and leaders in which our husbands are also part of the teams," she said.

She said Bakti members should continue to strengthen their solidarity at all times in facing the current challenges.

According to Rosmah, Bakti members too must boost their knowledge and their skills which were relevant with the demands of the times including by mastering the communication media such as social media.

-- BERNAMA