Ikmal Hisham, who is also deputy defence minister, maintained that members of the public attended the event voluntarily.

“The presence of attendees was voluntary, with no gifts such as G-Shock watches or umbrellas handed out to the public.

“I regret that such allegations have surfaced as offering such watches or umbrellas as door gifts to the 30,000 attendees would have cost tens of millions of ringgit,” Astro Awani quoted him as saying.

He added that the large crowd in attendance was a show of support for former prime minister and PN chairman Muhyiddin Yassin, who also attended the event.

At the event last weekend, which was also attended by Kelantan PN chairman and Kelantan menteri besar Ahmad Yakob, PN announced its Kelantan division chiefs as well as the coalition’s state-level machinery.

Ikmal Hisham was appointed the Tanah Merah PN division chief.