Newly sworn-in Kedah Menteri Besar Ahmad Bashah Md Hanapiah is "slighted" by personal insults against him, especially on claims he dozes off at important ceremonies.
"Yes, I am slighted ( terguris )," he told reporters after he was sworn in today.
Bashah said those circulating photos of him with his eyes shut during official ceremonies want to "insult" him.
"Can't I even blink?" he shot back, when asked about screenshot of a TV clip showing him with his eyes shut, during his swearing-in ceremony as MB at the Kedah palace today.
"Don't tell me I have to keep my eyes open all the time?" he asked.
"Why aren't photos taken of others when their eyes are shut?" he asked. "We must remember that we all may face the same issue."
The controversy first arose when former Kedah MB Mukhriz Mahathir said he hoped his successor will not " doze off during the oath-taking ceremony ".
Mukhriz was referring to a clip showing Bashah purportedly sleeping at a palace function that has been circulating online.
However, Bashah disputed Mukhriz's statement, saying the 36-minute video clip which showed him allegedly napping was probably "edited".
He said he had his eyes shut because he was "appreciating" the sultan's speech at the time.
He added that he found that he could "concentrate" on matters better by shutting his eyes.
Related story
Kedah state excos who backed Mukhriz could get the chop
