He said the initiative was introduced by the unity government under the leadership of Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim to benefit the people, especially in facing the rising cost of living.

“It really doesn’t matter if they (other parties) want to claim that the Rahmah initiative is theirs. The most important thing for me is that the people get the benefit. During Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s first term as prime minister, he introduced Wawasan 2020.

“Under Anwar Ibrahim, we launched the Madani concept which introduced the Rahmah initiative catering to the needs of the people,” he told reporters when met at an open house at his residence in Tanjung Piai here.

He was responding to a claim by Gerakan Tanah Air deputy information chief Mahdzir Ibrahim that the Rahmah concept was first presented in February 2020 by Mahathir during his second stint as prime minister under the then Pakatan Harapan government.

On another matter, Salahuddin said Kedah menteri besar Sanusi Nor should not politicise the decision by the prime minister to hold open houses in the six states that are due to have their elections in a few months.

The Pulai MP, who is also Amanah deputy president, said the prime minister has his own way of meeting the people by having open houses in the states.