KJ: Reinstate practice of inviting former prime ministers to National Day celebrations

Former Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin has called for the revival of the tradition of formally inviting former prime ministers to Malaysia's National Day celebrations. In his proposal, Jamaluddin suggested that all living ex-prime ministers should be included, irrespective of their political affiliations, with proper seating arrangements in place for them at the event.

According to the Federal Order of Precedence, former prime ministers hold the 10th rank, a position of significant honor that should be respected. This idea was first brought to light during a recent podcast appearance on Keluar Sekejap, where Jamaluddin elaborated on his stance.

The recent attendance of Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, Malaysia's former prime minister, at the 2026 National Day celebrations at Dataran Putrajaya went viral, igniting a heated debate among the public. Some argued that Mahathir should have been given a special seat as a mark of recognition for his contributions as a statesman.

Malaysian government officials, including those from the Federal Ceremonial, Conference and International Secretariat (BIUPA) and the 2026 National Day Celebration Secretariat, have maintained that they are merely executing their duties as per protocol.

Former Umno Information Chief Shahril Hamdan echoed Jamaluddin's sentiments, emphasizing that such symbolic gestures, like inviting former prime ministers to National Day celebrations, can act as crucial national symbols passed down through generations. He also pointed out that, in any country and culture, recognizing symbolic milestones is essential for maintaining respect for institutions. If not done, society risks forgetting and losing reverence for those symbols over time.