Rosmah expressed doubt the current Pakatan Harapan (PH) administration would continue her programme. — AFP pic

KUALA LUMPUR, May 21 — Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor apologised to families who have benefited from her National Permata Programme (Permata) over the fate she expects to befall the initiative soon.

In an exclusive interview with Malay Mail, Rosmah spoke passionately about her vision that led her to start the nationwide programme, which is funded to the tune of tens of millions by the federal government, to help develop the skills and talents of gifted and disabled kids.

However, she expressed doubt the current Pakatan Harapan (PH) administration would continue her programme.

Rosmah said that while Permata was dear to her, she is now forced to focus on the welfare and safety of her own family that is under a money-laundering investigation linked to 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB).

“To me, my immediate concern is this family, and people have got to understand that. You know previously, I was always taking care of people’s families until I forget my family.

“So now, this is the time to take care of my family. The responsibility should be from home. I would like to see Permata carry on, but I leave it to the present government. Whatever they deem fit.

“But I just want to apologise to the parents and to the children that these things happened, and I hope they are able to take it as well, because I am very close to all of them,” she added.

The programme started nearly a decade ago when former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak first took office. In the 2017 Budget, the programme received RM85 million in allocations.

Rosmah was accompanied by her lawyers, Datuk Geethan Ram Vincent and M. Puravalen, as well as her close aides during the interview.

This is her first press interview since the BN lost the 14th general election and law enforcement agencies began investigating her family over 1MDB.