Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak is scheduled to attend the 1Malaysia Thaipusam celebration in Sungai Petani, Kedah, on Thursday, Kedah Umno liaison committee chairman Ahmad Bashah Md Hanipah said today.

He said thousands of Hindu devotees were expected to attend the event at the Subramania Swami Devastanam (Temple) in Pekan Lama which the prime minister would be visiting for the first time.

Najib, who will be making a one-day visit to Kedah on that day, would also attend a luncheon with leaders of BN component parties in Kedah at the Kelab Cinta Sayang in Sungai Petani.

“This will be followed by a closed-door meeting with the State Umno liaison committee members at the same venue,” he told reporters after launching the “Juara Rakyat” event organised by the Padang Serai Umno Division at the multipurpose hall in Kilang Lama in Kulim.

Ahmad Bashah said the prime minister would also attend a leader-with-the-people session at the Taman Seri Pinang public field in Tikam Batu where more than 10,000 people were expected to gather.

Earlier, Ahmad Bashah and Kedah Umno liaison committee deputy chairman Mukhriz Mahathir handed over school bags, nutritious foodstuff and wheelchairs to 250 pupils, the poor and needy in the Padang Seri parliamentary constituency under the E-Kasih programme of the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry.

After the event, Mukhriz was escorted by a convoy of 600 motorcyclists from Kulim to Desa Keda Bagan Sena to open a futsal court.

- Bernama