KUALA LUMPUR – The national-level Hari Raya open house to be hosted in six states by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is considered to cost less compared to those conducted by previous administrations, said Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari.
Taking to social media, Amirudin said the criticism by Perikatan Nasional (PN) that the national-level open house celebration is excessive is unfounded.
Amirudin then took Selangor as an example where the state’s Hari Raya open house, held in nine districts last year, had cost less than RM1 million compared to previous years.
“PN had criticised the Aidilfitri celebration by the PM held in six states and even raised the issue of wastages.
“Since 2022, Selangor has hosted open houses in nine districts and will continue to do so this year. Records however show that the state had spent less for each locality.
“In previous years, expenditure exceeded RM1 million in 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019.
“However, last year, expenditure only cost RM900,000, with an average RM100,000 for each district,” said Amirudin.
PN pun serang rumah terbuka Eidulfitri PM di enam negeri dgn bangkit soal pembaziran. Mulai 2022 Selangor anjur rumah terbuka di 9 daerah dan akan terus dibuat tahun ini. Namun rekod kos negeri lebih rendah berbanding anjuran di satu lokaliti.
— Amirudin Shari (@AmirudinShari) April 23, 2023
Moving away from past conventions of hosting the Hari Raya open house at the prime minister’s official residence, Anwar instead chose to hold national-level open houses in six states, including PN led states of Kedah, Kelantan, and Terengganu.
Other states included Selangor, Penang, and Negri Sembilan.
According to a statement by the Prime Minister’s Department, the national-level open house programme in Kedah is expected to host some 25,000 guests.
Meanwhile, the other open houses are set to see 15,000 guests at each location.
The open house in Kedah will be held on April 29 at Alor Star’s Raia Hotel from 10am to 2pm with the Home Ministry spearheading the event.
As for the programme in Kelantan, it is scheduled for May 12 at the Sultan Muhammad IV Stadium from 7pm to 10.30pm.
In Terengganu, the open house will be held on May 13 at Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin’s Dewan Al-Muktafi Billah Shah from 7pm to 10.30pm.
The prime minister will attend three more Aidilfitri open houses organised by the state governments in Selangor, Penang, and Negri Sembilan.
These three events are sponsored by the Prime Minister’s Department through the Project Acceleration and Coordination Unit as the main organiser. – The Vibes, April 24, 2023
