ELEMENTS OF POLITICS? WASTE OF PEOPLE’S MONEY? – THEN WHY IS KEDAH’S ‘LOONY-TUNE’ MB HOLDING HIS OWN RAYA OPEN HOUSE – AS THOUGH SANUSI WON’T BE INVITING TOP PAS & PN LEADERS – OR WON’T BE USING KEDAHANS’ MONEY?
Element of politics in open house? What’s wrong, Puad asks Sanusi
The Umno Supreme Council member hits back at the Kedah menteri besar who said the move by the prime minister to hold open houses in the six ‘election’ states smacks of politicking.
PETALING JAYA: Umno Supreme Council member Puad Zarkashi has hit back at Kedah menteri besar Sanusi Nor for describing the Hari Raya open houses scheduled by the prime minister in the six states which are due to hold elections as campaign events.
Puad said the purpose of an open house is for public relations, which meant expanding the relationship with the public.
“That is why all elected representatives and menteris besar have open houses. Events like this do have some elements of politics and campaigning. What’s wrong with that?” he said in a Facebook post.
On a sarcastic note, Puad invited Sanusi to attend the event and stand next to the prime minister to greet visitors throughout the event.
Yesterday, Sanusi said by holding such open houses, Putrajaya was going against its policy of doing away with massive events to cut costs. He said the move also smacked of politicking as the six states will be holding elections after June.
He said federal leaders should stick to the long-standing tradition of a single open house event at the prime minister’s residence, Seri Perdana, or around Putrajaya.
To this, Puad said if Sanusi felt that it was a waste of money, he should not have any open house, especially if the same people are being invited to attend.
Meanwhile, Amanah president Mohamad Sabu said the decision to hold the open house away from Putrajaya is an effort by Putrajaya to reach out to the people and state leaderships.
“It has nothing to do with the six state elections. Not everyone can attend if it is held at Seri Perdana in Putrajaya. Hence, the prime minister wanted to reach out to as many people as possible to celebrate Hari Raya.
“In fact, many national-level events are also being planned to be held outside of Putrajaya to strengthen federal-state ties,” Bernama quoted the agriculture and food security minister as saying.
Yesterday, government spokesman Fahmi Fadzil said the open houses would be held in Kedah (April 29), Penang (May 6), Negeri Sembilan (May 7), Kelantan (May 12), Terengganu (May 13), and Selangor (May 14).
These six states are due to call for elections after June. FMT
Madani Aidilfitri open house an effort to reach out to people, says Mat Sabu
ALOR SETAR: The Malaysia Madani Aidilfitri Open House event with the Prime Minister is a federal government effort to reach out to the people and state leaderships and has nothing to do with the six state elections due to be held this year, said Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu.
The Agriculture and Food Security Minister said organising the event at the state level can provide as much access as possible to the people from the states concerned to attend compared to holding it in Putrajaya.
“Not everyone can attend this open house if it is held at Seri Perdana, Putrajaya. Hence, the choice made by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim was to reach out to and celebrate as many people as possible.
“In fact, many national-level events are also planned to be held outside of Putrajaya to achieve the desire of strengthening cooperation (with all states),” he told reporters at the Kedah-level Agriculture and Food Security Ministry’s Aidilfitri Celebration here last night.
Muhammad Sanusi said the programme also involves high costs, which is against the federal government’s stance of implementing cost-saving measures, and stressed that it should stick with the usual practice of holding the Aidilfitri open house in Putrajaya.
Mohamad, who is also the Amanah president, said the federal government was committed to spending prudently so that there is no issue of wastage in organising the event.
The Malaysia Madani Aidilfitri Open House event with the Prime Minister will begin in Kedah on April 29, followed by Penang (May 6), Negeri Sembilan (May 7), Kelantan (May 12), Terengganu (May 13) and Selangor (May 14). – Bernama
FREE MALAYSIA TODAY / BERNAMA
.