Rosmah, who is the patron of the child education and welfare organisation, spoke of the difficulty in obtaining funds from the government in the first place.
She also said the Permata programme was established to help the people of Malaysia and that it had nothing to do with her.
“I didn’t take money (from Permata) or use it. It’s not in my wallet. You can check. (You think) it’s easy to get money from the government?
“It’s easy for the government to take our money, but when we ask for money, it’s so difficult. I didn’t take the money and put it in my wallet.”
Rosmah was speaking at the closing ceremony of a two-day national seminar on child sexual crimes at the Putra World Trade Centre here today.
Opposition pact Pakatan Harapan had earlier this year demanded that the government abolish several organisations, including Permata, to reduce expenditure.
Damansara Utama state assemblywoman Yeo Bee Yin had also questioned Permata’s finances, urging the organisation to reveal its financial accounts.
But Rosmah, in her speech this afternoon, said any questions regarding the programme’s expenditure should be directed at Permata chairman Siti Azizah Sheikh Abod, not her.
“It (the funding) is not for me, not for Najib. It’s for unfortunate children. So please give (Permata) your support, trust and confidence so we will be motivated to help everyone.”
She also pleaded for the public to stop politicising Permata, saying the organisation had nothing to do with politics.
“Don’t doubt the programme. Don’t ask about its financial sources or whatever. We’ve already explained but they ask again. That’s what I don’t understand.
“Permata has no political connection. We never ask which party your (the children) father is affiliated to; if this party, then can join, if that party, cannot. No.
“We’ve never done such things. Permata is an early education programme for children below the age of four, and they are from a less privileged background.”