Mukhriz apologises for not greeting Johor Sultan

PETALING JAYA: Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir has apologised to the Johor Sultan for not greeting him at Istana Abu Bakar in Pekan on Thursday (May 23).

The Kedah Mentri Besar and the Johor royal family were there to pay their last respects to former Sultan of Pahang, Paduka Ayahanda Sultan Ahmad Shah Al-Musta'in Billah Ibni Almarhum Sultan Abu Bakar Ri'ayatuddin Al Muadzam Shah.

An aide of Mukhriz said the Kedah Mentri Besar had written to Sultan Ibrahim Ibni Almarhum Sultan Iskandar to express his apology and seek forgiveness for his careless oversight in the matter. 

“The Mentri Besar informed His Majesty that the mistake was due to his 'carelessness' (kealpaan) and does not reflect the etiquette of the people of Kedah,” said the aide in a statement on Friday (May 24).  

A video clip of the incident has since gone viral.

The statement said that Mukhriz wrote a letter to Sultan Ibrahim regarding his action, which was described as a mistake (kekhilafan).

Mukhriz was responding to a video clip of him purportedly refusing to greet the Johor Ruler and Tunku Mahkota Johor Tunku Ismail Ibni Sultan Ibrahim at Istana Abu Bakar on Thursday.

The clip has also appeared on Tunku Ismail's Twitter account.

Tunku Ismail responded with an emoticon of clasped hands after a tweet from Friends of Johor, accusing Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad's son as being arrogant.

"The difference between two men, @HRHJohorII (Tunku Ismail) shook Tun M's hand but Mukhriz was too arrogant to shake SOJ's (Sultan of Johor's) hand at Istana Abu Bakar (in Pekan, Pahang)," read the tweet from the @FriendOfJohor twitter handle.

Friends of Johor also posted photographs showing both Sultan Ibrahim and Tunku Ismail greeting Dr Mahathir at Istana Abu Bakar.