The state government is boycotting the opening of Kelantan Fiesta 2010 tonight, claming that the organiser had broken its promise to allow Menteri Besar Nik Aziz Nik Mat to speak.

takiyuddin hassanState local government, tourism and culture committtee chairperson Takiyuddin Hassan (left) said organiser Red Carpet World Wide Sdn Bhd had contravened terms of the agreement signed with the state government.

The fiesta was to be launched by the Regent of Kelantan, Tengku Muhammad Faris Petra and attended by Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak in the compound of Sultan Mohammed IV Stadium.

Originally, he said, Tengku Faris was to launch the fiesta while Nik Aziz was scheduled to speak, but now the regent would not be launching it while Nik Aziz could not not address the audience.

According to the exco, the state government had received a letter from the Federal Development Department on June 13 to inform the former that the Prime Minister "does not want the menteri besar to speak."

"(So) we did not pull out. They sidelined us, they sidelined the menteri besar.That has embarrased the MB as the event host," he said when contacted late this afternoon.

This is not the first time the state government has been disregarded, he added.

Takiyuddin, who is also state assemblyperson for Bunut Payong, said the state exco meeting decided for the government to pull out from the program, which will be held until June 19.

He said further that banners publicising the event had already announced the plan for the prime minister to officiate the event instead of the regent.

"So there's been a conflict of understanding. The regent was supposed to officiate tonight's function, but it has been portrayed as if the prime minister would do so. We are dissappointed," he said.

Accordin to Bernama, the state government would not stop the three-day fiesta provided it abide by terms approved by local authorities but added activities like '1001 pesilat' and making of the giant drum had been cancelled.