Sanusi refutes involvement in students’ pledge of support

 

Kedah Menteri Besar Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor has denied being involved in the pledge of support made by a group of students at a recent Hari Raya event held at his residence.

The PAS lawmaker said that he had merely provided the venue and food, whereas the itinerary was handled by the students. 

“The itinerary was organised by the students, including the oath-taking. I never knew there was going to be an oath-taking ceremony,” he was quoted as saying by Free Malaysia Today. 

The event which took place on April 17 was organised by the Kedah state government, with the support of Persatuan Mahasiswa Darulaman (Persada) and Gabungan Mahasiswa Islam Se-Malaysia (Gamis). 

Its attendees consisted of students in Form 5 and Form 6 in the Malaysian Matriculation Programme and university students led by Gamis.

During the event, which took place at the Menteri Besar’s Official Residence in Kedah, the students were asked to stand up and pledge their support to Sanusi.

The event’s emcee prompted the students to repeat the following line:

“We, the students of Kedah, will defend and pledge our support to the Kedah menteri besar,” the emcee said, before leading the group to chant the takbir.

Meanwhile, during an hour-long question and answer session, one student had asked Sanusi how they could support the latter to remain as menteri besar during the upcoming state elections.

The PAS lawmaker responded with: “If you want me to be menteri besar, you have to let my party win.

“But then you would have to ask my party who they will nominate (as menteri besar).”

Sanusi, who is a first-term menteri besar, said that it was not a practice within his party to ask for positions.

He said he will not request to be reappointed to the position as it was up to party leaders. 

However, if given the opportunity, Sanusi vowed to do his best.

At the same event, Sanusi had also claimed that Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s Hari Raya open house celebrations was a form of campaigning ahead of the state elections.

Anwar’s open houses will be held in six states expected to hold elections this year, namely Kedah, Penang, Negeri Sembilan, Kelantan, Terengganu, and Selangor.

Sanusi maintained today that it was an ethical breach and questioned the involvement of several ministries in organising the open house events. - Mkini