Sanusi said he had no say in what took place at the event and was merely a participant.

“I merely provided a venue and catered the food,” he said referring to the event at Seri Mentaloon, the menteri besar’s official residence.

“The itinerary was organised by the students, including the oath-taking. I never knew there was going to be an oath-taking ceremony,” he told FMT, adding that he was only there to field questions from the students.

He said this when dismissing Umno Supreme Council member Lokman Noor Adam’s accusations that the opposition was practising double standards.

Lokman had accused Sanusi of hypocrisy as the menteri besar had previously labelled the prime minister’s upcoming Hari Raya gatherings as a form of political campaign for the state polls.

The students, led by Gabungan Mahasiswa Islam Se-Malaysia (Gamis), were heard pledging their support for Sanusi during the gathering at the menteri besar’s residence. Later, they had a discussion with Sanusi for over an hour on Kedah and national matters.

In a video, the students were heard saying: “We, the students of Kedah, will defend, and state our support for MB Kedah. Takbir, takbir”.

Meanwhile, Sanusi reiterated that the coming Hari Raya open house to be held by Anwar in six states was a form of campaigning ahead of the state polls. He said it could not have been a coincidence that these gatherings were being held in the six states that would be having their state polls soon.

He said it was an ethical breach and questioned the involvement of several ministries in organising the open house events.

Sanusi cited an example of a Hari Raya open house by agriculture and food security minister Mohamad Sabu in Kedah, which was held under the auspices of the ministry, but had large backdrops which identified the minister as Amanah chief.

Mohamad has been contacted for comment.

Meanwhile, student leader Luqman Nurhakim Shamsudin, said the pledge read out by a student was impromptu but it saw others following suit.