The agriculture and food security minister said he was left puzzled by Sanusi’s claim as the management at the venue, the Malaysia Agro Exposition Park Serdang (MAEPS), had yet to approve the event.

“The claim by the Kedah menteri besar is strange,” he said in a Facebook post.

Mohamad, better known as Mat Sabu, also questioned how Sanusi and his party, PAS, could distribute posters of the event when the venue had yet to be confirmed.

He added that a similar programme by the PAS-led Terengganu government had been organised at MAEPS without any issue.

Yesterday, Sanusi claimed that the approval for the event had been revoked by Mohamad’s ministry.

He then said the event will proceed but will be held in Kuala Lumpur instead.

Mohamad said since Sanusi announced that the “buka puasa” event would be held at another venue, the ministry considered that the one planned at MAEPS had been cancelled.

Sanusi’s recent claim follows an allegation that he was banned from taking part in events organised by the federal government, including the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition (Lima) in May.

He also claimed the decision was made by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s Cabinet, although he did not elaborate.

Yesterday, deputy prime minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said there was no official letter or circular barring Sanusi from attending events organised by the federal government.

“I have not heard of any instructions barring him from attending any official event organised by the federal government unless this was told to him personally,” Bernama quoted Zahid as saying.