Did I say anything wrong? - Perak MB on calls to apologise

Perak Menteri Besar Ahmad Faizal Azumu has remained unapologetic over his remarks which sparked an outcry from state DAP and PKR leaders.

"Did I say anything wrong?" he asked in Putrajaya today when quizzed by reporters over calls from DAP for him to apologise.

Perak DAP had last week demanded that Faizal apologise to the Pakatan Harapan presidential council over his widely-shared remarks on waging a desperate battle alone to protect Malay interests and Islam. 

Perak PKR chairperson Farhash Wafa Salvador Rizal Mubarak had also claimed that Faizal does not deserve to hold the menteri besar post.

"In Perak, I am fighting a desperate battle alone against 'puak-puak' (factions) DAP. I want to defend the land of the Malays. I want to champion our religion," Faizal had said while on the campaign trail for Harapan's Tanjung Piai by-election candidate Karmaine Sardini.

Faizal, who earlier attended the Bersatu supreme council meeting chaired by Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad (photo), today maintained that his statement was taken out of context and he had explained the matter to Bersatu top leaders.

At a press conference earlier, Mahathir, who is also the Bersatu chairperson, had defended the menteri besar and said the latter was forced to explain the real situation in Perak to a hostile group of fisherfolk.

"He was faced with a group of fishermen who were really aggressive. They thought that Harapan is dominated by DAP.

"So he had to explain, although he is alone and there are more DAP (representatives) in Perak, he is still MB and he controls the state government.

"He needs to explain that because these people are very extreme in their views," stressed Mahathir who similarly brushed aside calls for an apology. - Mkini