Jelutong PKR Youth division chief Khairil Anuar Kamaruddin came out today to declare that he did not hear Komtar assemblyperson Ng Wei Aik utter any racist remarks against an Indian Muslim restaurant owner.

NONE Breaking his silence on the matter, Khairil Anuar ( left ), who on Wednesday would neither confirm nor deny a claim in a blog posting that he was witness to the remark allegedly made by Ng, said he needed a week, until both parties had resolved the issue, before commenting.

He admitted that he was present with Ng when Penang Municipal Council (MPPP) personnel took action at the Nasi Kandar Mohamed Aliyar restaurant on Gat Lebuh Macallum.

Khairil Anuar raised suspicion when he refused to comment on a blog posting that said he had witnessed Ng making the racist remark, " tutup kedai, balik India " (close shop, go back to India).

He said he was standing beside Ng when MPPP enforcement personnel seized the restaurant's equipment and furniture from the roadside, which the council deemed a threat to public safety following a two-vehicle accident close to the restaurant on Jan 2 that endangered the shop's patrons.

"However, as far as I can remember, I did not hear Ng utter the racist comment," he told reporters at Komtar today.

"If I had heard the remark... I can assure the Malaysian Indian Muslim Congress (Kimma) that I would be more angry than them, as my grandparents are from India," Khairil Anuar said.

NONE The Penang PKR Youth leader said he chose to keep mum on the issue as both sides - Ng and the restaurant owner - were trying to resolve the issue internally.

"Like I said earlier, we have principles. We will settle the matter internally first, then we will talk... as we have proven today," he added.

This morning, Ng surprised everyone by apologising to the restaurant owner, Syed Kassali Mohamed Aliyar, his family and workers, and to all Indian Muslims in the country over his "heavy-handed behaviour" during the raid.

He also apologised for any remarks made, either consciously or unconsciously, to Syed Kassali, that may have hurt him.

Penang PKR Youth claimed credit for the turn of events, with its chief Mohd Amir Ghazali saying the group had a closed-door meeting with Ng, followed by another session with Syed Kassali, prior to Ng's apology.

"We offered ourselves as middlemen to help resolve this tense issue," Mohd Amir told a press conference at Komtar.

'Do not fan racial sentiments'

"It was the result of the meetings and our comradeship in Pakatan Rakyat that Ng and MPPP councillor Tay Leong Seng offered their apologies, publicly, to Syed Kassali," he added.

NONE Amir urged all sectors not to fan racial sentiments that would not benefit anyone.

State PKR Youth secretary Syed Mikael Rizal Aidid ( right ) said the wing totally rejected attempts by certain groups to turn the incident into a racial issue.

Syed Mikael said Pakatan Youth was not against state government policies and MPPP action if these were carried out according to rules and regulations.

"We defend the authority's action to ensure public safety and convenience, and we urge the groups concerned to stop turning this incident into a racial issue," he said.

"Ng is sincere and has apologised with an open heart... we should support him in this matter."