Even sultan has no issue with open house, Mahfuz tells PN

 

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim with well-wishers at the Madani Kedah rally in Alor Setar today. (Facebook pic)

PETALING JAYA: Pakatan Harapan in Kedah has told off Perikatan Nasional for opposing the prime minister’s Aidilfitri open house in the state, saying even the ruler would attend.

Kedah PH chairman Mahfuz Omar said the Sultan of Kedah, Sultan Sallehuddin Sultan Badlishah, had no issue with the event and would attend the open house tomorrow.

Mahfuz, who is an Amanah vice-president, said Sultan Sallehuddin had neither said the open house violated Kedah’s authority to hold its own Hari Raya celebration nor that it was wasteful.

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“Instead he welcomed Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim to the state. Tomorrow the sultan will be coming (to attend the open house), so the people of Kedah should attend the open house with him,” he said.

“This is an opportunity for the prime minister to see the deficiencies (in Kedah) that need to be tackled and the advantages we have that can be boosted,” Mahfuz said at a Madani Kedah event in Alor Setar attended by Anwar.

On Wednesday, PN secretary-general Takiyuddin Hassan claimed that the Hari Raya open houses in six states contradicted Putrajaya’s commitment to do away with massive events to cut costs.

Takiyuddin, who is also PAS secretary-general, claimed the government was politicising the festivities and challenged the “dignity” of the respective states. He accused the federal government of failing to respect the authority of each state to hold its own Aidilfitri celebrations.

Earlier today, it was announced that the sultan as well as Kedah menteri besar Sanusi Nor will join Anwar at the open house in Alor Setar tomorrow.

Kedah and Putrajaya ‘must be aligned’

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Kedah Umno chief Mahdzir Khalid said the Kedah government must be aligned with Putrajaya to ease dealings between the state and federal administrations, while ensuring the welfare of Kedah folk.

“If the state government is always fighting with Putrajaya, how will the administration manage the state?

“There are less than 100 days to the state elections. I invite all my fellow Kedahans to take a look at how the unity government is managing the federal government,” he told the crowd at the Madani Kedah event. - FMT