PM not hosting Raya open house this year as cost-cutting measure

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said today he will not host a Hari Raya Aidilfitri open house at Seri Perdana this year, in a financial decision to save public funds.

Speaking at the Finance Ministry monthly assembly in Putrajaya this morning, the prime minister also advised government agencies not to be lavish in their Raya celebrations.

“I want to remind you here because sometimes we also forget. Like myself, I am a prime minister, and if I spend the government’s money, I think (it is not right) because it is not my own money.

“What is the point of rejecting my salary but I spend the government’s funds lavishly? So, to celebrate (Hari Raya), let’s not overdo it. Remember that this is the month of Ramadan when we should be reminded about the people in villages, the kids who cannot afford a comfortable life.

“If we can save money, we can channel it for the benefit of others. That is why I have decided that this year, I will not host a big event. Enough for me just to attend ministries programmes, so it won’t add up to the government’s spending like hosting a massive open house at Seri Perdana,” he said.

‘Set a good example’

This would be the second time Anwar decided not to host the Hari Raya Aidilfitri open house at Seri Perdana since he became the prime minister in December 2022.

It has been a practice by previous prime ministers to host Hari Raya open houses for the public at their official residence.

Instead, the government hosted a series of Aidilfitri open houses in six states last year - Kedah, Kelantan, Terengganu, Penang, Selangor, and Negeri Sembilan - states that were at the time due for elections.

Putrajaya’s bill for hosting the open houses in Kedah, Kelantan, and Terengganu came up to just over RM6 million while the Penang, Selangor, and Negeri Sembilan governments footed the costs in their states.

The federal government, however, argued that the cost of hosting the open houses in the three opposition states was lower than the RM11 million spent by Anwar’s predecessor Ismail Sabri Yaakob to host an Aidilfitri open house at Seri Perdana in 2022.

Meanwhile, in his speech, Anwar told government agencies to be prudent in their Raya celebrations, saying “it is not even your money”.

“We have been saying that the government should be prudent in its spending. So, this includes (government) agencies.

“Hosting Aidilfitri events is okay, but I want to make sure that government agencies can set a good example.

“There is no need to try to outdo each other by hosting lavish and grand events. It’s not even your money,” he said.

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