BUKIT KAYU HITAM, April 25 — The Malaysia Madani Aidilfitri open house with the Prime Minister slated to be held in six states starting with Kedah on April 29 will not be a waste, rather an effort to celebrate and fete the people in conjunction with Aidilfitri.

Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said the provision of food such as ketupat and lemang as well as satay at the open houses does not involve excessive costs.

“Why would we be so calculative about having open houses to celebrate Aidilfitri with the people? That ketupat and lemang will not cost that much. I don’t see any issue... how would it be a waste?

“Other than lemang, ketupat and satay, there will also be booths offering cendol and ais kacang, and they are not that expensive. InsyaAllah, it won’t be a waste,” he told a press conference after attending the Aidilfitri do at the General Operations Force Tactical Base (Martak PGA) here today.

Saifuddin Nasution said this in response to the report quoting Kedah Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor as saying that the open houses were part of programmes held in view of the upcoming state elections and should not be organised.

Muhammad Sanusi was also quoted as saying that the programmes would involve high costs despite the federal government’s austerity drive and proposed for it to be held just in Putrajaya as usual.

This year’s open houses are slated to be held in Kedah on April 29; Penang (May 6); Negeri Sembilan (May 7); Kelantan (May 12); Terengganu (May 13) and Selangor (May 14).

Saifuddin Nasution who is also Pakatan Harapan (PH) secretary-general said the open houses were not election campaign programmes, but rather an approach for Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to reach out and meet with the people.

He said the PAS-led Kedah government and all the people, including Muhammad Sanusi, are welcome to attend the open house in the state on April 29.

Meanwhile, Saifuddin Nasution also said that the seat distribution between PH and Barisan Nasional (BN) for the state elections in the six states is running smoothly right now.

“There is no problem in the negotiation process. I can say that it’s progressing well,” he added. — Bernama