In a statement made after a minister was criticised online for bringing his children to the event, the palace said yesterday’s gathering was “special” because the King and Queen were willing to invite all their distinguished guests to attend with their families.

There had been criticism earlier today of Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad, the minister of natural resources, environment and climate change, for attending the open house with his children.

However, there was public backlash against Norlin Shamsul Bahri, the wife of former foreign affairs minister Saifuddin Abdullah, who had criticised Nik Nazmi.

In a comment on Nik Nazmi’s Instagram account, she had questioned whether the minister had considered palace protocol when he took his children with him.

He responded that the palace had actually invited his family as well.

Online backlash

Social media users defended Nik Nazmi and criticised Norlin instead, allegedly for being jealous.

Commenting on Norlin’s response, PKR Youth vice-chief Prasanth Kumar Brakasam asked whether she, the wife of a former minister herself, was jealous that her husband is no longer a minister.

Muar MP Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman, president of Muda, questioned what Nik Nazmi had done wrong by bringing his family to the event. “Give the minister and his family a break,” he said in a Twitter post.

Twitter user, @FairuzRosli asked whether Norlin thought the palace open house was a “walk-in event” where guests were free to bring whoever they wanted.

“Invitations and RSVPs are made for a certain number of people (for this kind of event),” he said.

Norlin has since locked her Twitter account.