Summary
- The Communications Ministry clarified the invitation procedure following questions over Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s attendance at Dataran Putrajaya.
- Since 2018, former prime ministers have not automatically received invitations to National Day celebrations.
- Former leaders are not prevented from attending and official arrangements can be made upon request.
- Authorities had earlier been informed that Mahathir would be overseas from Aug 28 to 31.
PUTRAJAYA, September 1 — Former prime ministers have not automatically received invitations to Malaysia’s National Day celebrations since 2018, the Communications Ministry said.
Following questions over Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s attendance on Sunday. The ministry said former leaders were not prevented from attending and arrangements could be made upon request.
Under official procedures. It added that the Prime Minister’s Office had earlier been informed Mahathir would travel overseas from Aug 28 to 31 under an approved former prime minister’s overseas rest facility.
Mahathir, 101, nevertheless attended the celebration at Dataran Putrajaya in an electric wheelchair.
