KOTA BHARU: Kelantan Umno has decided to cancel its state-level Aidilfitri open house this year in response to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's call to promote prudent spending. Its chief, Datuk Seri Ahmad Jazlan Yaakub, said the cost-cutting measure was taken as a precaution against potential financial strain stemming from global economic uncertainty. "Besides the open house, a planned iftar gathering at the end of Ramadan has also been postponed," he told reporters after a Ramadan moreh event with Kelantan media practitioners on Sunday night (March 15). The Prime Minister said the Cabinet-backed decision was meant to send a clear signal that the government is committed to adopting a more moderate and prudent approach to spending. Commenting on the state economy, Ahmad Jazlan said Kelantan's economic growth remained weak without support from the federal government and the private sector.

Source: The Star March 16, 2026 05:28 UTC