Pahang MB says sorry to state Opposition leader

KUANTAN: Pahang Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Adnan Yaakob (pic) has apologised for his behaviour towards the state Opposition leader during the state assembly sitting last week.

Adnan said sorry to Tengku Zulpuri Shah Raja Puji (DAP-Mentakab) but maintained that he never challenged him to a fist fight.

“I have referred to the Hansard and found I did not challenge anyone to a fist fight. It is madness for a mentri besar to be involved in a fight. He will no longer be qualified to be a mentri besar and an assemblyman.

“I have never gone physical in my lifetime, even during my school days. I would rather debate,” he said in his winding up speech in the assembly yesterday.

Adnan said he merely asked Tengku Zulpuri to “go outside” which could mean going for tea, or talk together.

“At that time, the Mentakab assemblyman started moving towards me and if he had reached me, I would have just hugged him,” he said.

Adnan said it was Lee Chean Chung (PKR-Semambu) who started spreading lies, saying that the Mentri Besar had challenged Tengku Zulpuri to a fist fight in the state assembly.

Tengku Zulpuri then stood up and said he forgave Adnan.

“I understand that the Mentri Besar is old (dah berumur) and he may have been feeling stressed out that day,” said Tengku Zulpuri.

During the sitting last Wednesday, a war of words erupted between Adnan and Tengku Zulpuri when the latter said natural disasters happened in various parts of the world and that they were not necessarily caused by organising a beer festival.

He was responding to Adnan’s statement on Monday that the recent floods in Penang were unprecedented and that it could have been a “heavenly calamity” over a beer festival held in the state.

There was a tense moment when both men started moving towards each other as though they were about to engage in a fist fight when recess was called.

Adnan also apologised to Speaker Datuk Seri Ishak Muhamad, Deputy Speaker Datuk Seri Mohamed Jaafar and Leong Ngah Ngah (DAP-Tanah Rata) for raising his voice at Leong when debating the state budget. 

Adnan said it was a noble act to apologise even if one was not in the wrong.