ALOR STAR: Kedah Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor stands by his claims that there is a cabinet directive preventing him from attending federal government functions, including the upcoming Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition 2023 (Lima 2023).
In fact, Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor today dropped another bombshell, claiming that the booking for a venue for a breaking of fast with Kedahans living in the Klang Valley this April 9 been withdrawn.
"Breaking fast with outstation Kedahans, Sunday April 9, 2023. The approval for Dewan A MAEPS, Serdang, Selangor under the Agricultural and Food Security Ministry has been withdrawn.
"We are just organising a breaking of fast session, the Kedah state government will be paying for the rental fee, what happened?," he said in a Facebook posting.
Following the cancellation of the venue approval, he said the state government was scouting a new location in the Klang Valley to proceed with the plan and date.
Yesterday, Sanusi had uploaded a Facebook posting claiming that he had been barred from from attending any federal government event, including Lima 2023, scheduled to take place in May.
He had claimed that the matter was decided by the cabinet under the leadership of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
When contacted today, Sanusi claimed that the cabinet directive to exclude him from Lima 2023 was informed by a ministry official to officers from the Menteri Besar's Office on Tuesday.
"The ministry official showed the cabinet directive document to officers from the MB's Office during a meeting in Langkawi," he said.
Sanusi also claimed certain federal government agencies in Kedah were no longer allowed to take part in or to cooperate in programmes under the state government.
State Information, Communications and Multimedia Committee Chairman Datuk Wan Romani Wan Salin slammed unity government ministers for allegedly not being professional every time they make an official visit to the state.
"Every time the 10th prime minister or his cabinet members come over to Kedah for working visits, there is no invitation to the menteri besar or the state exco.
"For example, I was not invited to any of the events attended by Communications and Digital Minister Fahmi Fadzil in Kedah yesterday and today.
"We always have room for cooperation (with the federal government) but I was not invited (to the events)."
Meanwhile, Kedah Umno information chief Datuk Shaiful Hazizy Zainol Abidin slammed Sanusi for pulling "yet another cheap publicity stunt".
"Following Fahmi's response to Sanusi over his claim of being barred from attending federal government functions, I am calling for Sanusi to explain why he had to issue such a baseless statement," he said in a statement today.
Shaiful said Sanusi should uphold the order of the Sultan of Kedah, Al Aminul Karim Sultan Sallehuddin Sultan Badlishah during the opening speech of the Kedah Legislative Assembly last month which called for all quarters "to avoid a culture of excessive politics that affects the relationship with each other, especially between the state and federal governments".
Yesterday, Fahmi had said he did not understand what Sanusi was implying when he claimed he was barred from federal government functions.
The minister had, without directly denying the claims, said everyone was invited to his events in Kedah.