KJ suggests all ex-PMs receive invites for Merdeka celebrations

 The former minister says this would be the ‘proper thing’ to do following backlash against Putrajaya for not inviting Dr Mahathir Mohamad to this year’s event.

Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s son, Mukhriz, posted a photo of his father at the National Day celebration in Putrajaya on Aug 31, saying he attended despite not receiving an invitation. (Facebook pic)

PETALING JAYA:

Former Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin has suggested that all former prime ministers be automatically invited to take part in National Day celebrations.

Khairy made the suggestion after the government faced backlash for not inviting former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad to this year’s National Day celebrations in Putrajaya.

“To solve this problem, I suggest that the prime minister and Cabinet decide that we go back to the pre-2018 practice, where surviving former prime ministers are automatically invited to the National Day celebrations and given front row seats.

“It does not matter which party they are from or whether they are friends or foes. That is the proper thing to do.

“Whether they want to attend or not is up to them,” he said in the latest episode of his “Keluar Sekejap” podcast.

Khairy, a former minister, pointed out that the Federal Order of Precedence places former prime ministers in 10th place, after the prime minister in sixth place, and federal ministers in 16th place.

The order is the official ceremonial ranking of royalty, high-ranking government officials, and dignitaries.

Communications ministry secretary-general Abdul Halim Hamzah, who chairs the secretariat handling this year’s celebrations, said former prime ministers have not been automatically invited to National Day celebrations since 2018.

Halim also said the secretariat had been informed by the Prime Minister’s Office that Mahathir would be abroad from Aug 28 to 31.

He said this was based on an application for “Facilities for Rest Abroad” that had been received and approved by the prime minister, in accordance with provisions on the remuneration of former prime ministers under the Members of Parliament (Remuneration) Act 1980.

“Keluar Sekejap” co-host Shahril Hamdan said the lack of a formal invitation to Mahathir for this year’s celebration was bound to create negative perceptions.

“No matter how you twist it or explain it, it just looks bad,” he said.

“The cynical ones will say that Tun M (Mahathir) just wants to create drama. But whatever it is, the optics just do not look good,” he said. - FMT