Rafidah questions cancellation of Dr M’s invitation
Former Umno minister Rafidah Aziz says in the past, even opposition leaders were invited to the government’s official functions.
Rafidah, who once served under Mahathir, said the former prime minister was awarded the highest honours by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong for his numerous contributions to the country.
“Do some quarters believe their (Dr Mahathir and his wife Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali) presence will sully the event?
“(And) Why should there be elements of personal vengeance in an event like this?” she said in a Facebook post.
Her post came following a letter by the palace, retracting an earlier invitation it had sent out to Mahathir, 91, and Siti Hasmah.
The invite was for the Dec 13 oath taking of the Sultan of Kelantan, Sultan Muhammad V, who would become Malaysia’s 15th Agong.
According to the Keeper of the Rulers’ Seal, Mahathir’s invite was retracted as the palace wished to “prevent any embarrassment as the office will not prepare a seat” for him.
“In the past, even opposition leaders had a place in the government’s official functions.”
Mahathir who is now chairman of Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia, today responded, saying he now realised that the palace is an institution owned by Prime Minister Najib Razak and his Barisan Nasional government.
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“Apparently, national events are part of party politics,” he said sarcastically.