Malaysians, for as long as we can remember, argue, quibble and feud relentlessly over socio-political issues, but the acrimony dissipates when they come together for an extraordinary feast in a typical festive open house.
It doesn't matter what the tribe, sect or clan association: the moment a favourite Malaysian cuisine is served, the only certain thing is laughter, leg pulling and merriment.
That is why the quintessentially unique Malaysian festive open house, hosted with joyous warmth, is a revered institution, universally adored and observed with wonder by foreigners setting foot here for the first time.
Tourism literature touts the open house as a star attraction, particularly if visitors are brought to an Aidilfitri first day, where tens of thousands of people throng Istana Negara or the prime minister's official residence for a memorable jollification.
Foreign commentators, besides making it a point to underline Malaysian open houses as a national celebration not replicated elsewhere, also write in awe at how anyone — young and old, rich or poor — can commingle with the king or the PM, with minor consideration for security.
So it was disheartening that Kedah Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor labelled the Malaysia Madani Aidilfitri open houses in six states, hosted by the PM, as high-cost events defying government austerity measures.
Yes, it doesn't take a political scientist to notice that the open houses in Kedah today, Penang (May 6), Negri Sembilan (May 7), Kelantan (May 12), Terengganu (May 13) and Selangor (May 14) may be construed as political campaigns, seeing that the six states are slated for state elections by July.
But that's hardly the point: open houses have previously been held in election seasons but nobody, not even a grating opposition, rapaciously dismissed these timeless get-togethers as singular political events: too much comfort food, fun and engaging company synchronising with political analyses, punditry and, yes, good old-fashioned campaign outreach.
Besides being a loathsome outlier in questioning a host's open house intentions, Sanusi is being disingenuous: he's either messing with a great Malaysian tradition or, and this could be the real reason for his specious slam, he's suffering from "Madani envy", kicking himself silly for failing to conceive nationwide open houses for Perikatan Nasional.
When the king, PM, menteris besar, political parties or the affluent make great efforts to host open houses, it's never about the high cost.
To button down open houses' costliness is akin to saying a high school football field is all that's needed to host an international match, instead of the usual spectacle at the Bukit Jalil National Stadium.
Sanusi's mean-spiritedness violates and insults the true Malaysian character, especially now that Pas, Sanusi's party, is mendaciously deconstructing generations worth of entrenched plurality and multiculturalism with vile extremism.
It may win Pas Pyrrhic victories in hotly-contested seats, but it will be at the expense of a precious national, moral and ethical trait.