There is a written order from the Cabinet, says Sanusi on ban

ALOR SETAR - Kedah Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor revealed today that there is a written order prohibiting him from attending official events organised by the federal government.

He said an officer from his office informed him on this, and he personally saw the letter issued by the Cabinet led by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

Sanusi said he did not make up 'the story' to cause controversy, but it really happened.

"My own officer saw the order letter in a meeting with a ministry in Langkawi recently.

"When asked why, they informed us we were not allowed to cooperate in state government programmes. Why would I lie when it really happened," he said when contacted today.

He added that all programmes that required his presence, as decided in earlier meetings, were to be replaced by the Kedah state secretary (SUK).

"It was also understood that all other agencies received the same order. The Muda Agricultural Development Authority (Mada), which is a government agency under the Agriculture and Food Security Ministry, also received the same instructions after the Cabinet meeting," he said.

Sanusi said the Sekolah Sains Kedah Alumni (ASSAK) iftar event at Sekolah Menengah Sains Sultan Mohammad Jiwa, where he attended before, also received the same instruction to ban him from attending the programme.

Yesterday, the Kedah Perikatan Nasional (PN) chief claimed in a Facebook post that he was banned from attending any function organised by the federal government, including the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition 2023 (LIMA'23) which will be held from May 23 to 27.

Adding further, he said the Malaysia Agro Exposition Park Serdang (MAEPS) event, which was earlier booked to host an Iftar programme with Kedah-born people in Selangor on April 9, was also cancelled.

"We are only organising a breakfast event, and the state government will pay for the hall rent, so why was it cancelled? "Kedah has contributed to the country, producing 43 per cent of the rice in the country. It doesn't matter anymore, there is no need to argue or fuss over it; we just have to accept it. If you are panaih, please don't be koyak (don't be upset if you feel it)," he said sarcastically.

Sanusi said that since the hall's rental was cancelled, the programme will be held as planned at a new location, which will be announced in the near future.