The government has been criticized by former law minister Zaid Ibrahim for failing to extend invitations to past prime ministers to attend recent National Day festivities in Putrajaya.
“In the footage from Tun M's Facebook, a beaming Tun M could be seen strolling alongside the joyful and proud throng as he celebrated Merdeka Day in Putrajaya. It was a delightful and exuberant sight to behold. Common folks conversing and keeping company with a carefree 99-year-old former prime minister
“In some ways, it's an odd sight. Why wasn't the 23-year-old Prime Minister of our country on stage?
“Why were Ismail Sabri and Muhiyuddin Yasin, two other former prime ministers, not invited to watch the parade? Why not bring Pak Lah's wife along if he's not feeling well? Najib would have been beaming if Rosmah had been invited,” said Zaid on X.
He also questioned why Tunku Abdul Rahman, Tan Cheng Lock, and VT Sambanthan—three of the founding fathers of contemporary Malaysia—as well as their families were not invited to attend the procession at Dataran Putrajaya.
“I understand why,” Zaid stated. "Our current leaders think too much of themselves. They believe that Malaysia owes none of the other prior leaders anything noteworthy. When organizing the Merdeka festival, their sole concern is self-promotion.”
He emphasized, in contrast, Singapore's independence celebrations, where national leaders who signed the 1965 Independence of Singapore Agreement, including Lee Kuan Yew, Othman Wok, and Ong Pang Boon, were a regular sight at National Day celebrations.
Zaid found it tragic that after long-serving Prime Minister Lee passed away in 2015, his chair remained empty.
“We do not cherish the history or the actions of those who came before us because our politics are so acrimonious. As a nation, what hope is there?” said the former law minister.
The Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Sultan Ibrahim, the Raja Permaisuri Agong, Raja Zarith Sofiah, as well as government officials, dignitaries, and foreign guests attended this year's National Day ceremony at Dataran Putrajaya.
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