Deputy Internal Security Minister Noh Omar has put the blame on the media over his contentious remark yesterday that foreigners could go home if they think Malaysia is a cruel country.

"What I meant was Malaysia is a safe country. If foreigners think our police are cruel and the country is not safe, then they would have gone back home long time ago. I did not tell them to go back,"he said repeatedly at a press conference in the Parliament lobby today.

His remark has come during a press conference at the Parliament lobby yesterday, after Speaker Ramli Ngah Talib had rejected an emergency motion to debate the issue of a woman who was allegedly forced to strip and perform 'ear-squats' at the Petaling Jaya police station.

Although conceding he had used the word balik (go back), he reiterated that reporters misunderstood the context of his statement.

"I was not misquoted (by reporters), but it was misinterpretation...although in fact I did say balik ," he said.

Pressed as to how every reporters could have misinterpreted him, he did not answer directly but repeated his stance that he would not want the image of the country to be tarnished.

"I am a deputy minister. Would I do something like this to jeopardise the image of the country? You know we are now trying to tell foreigners that our country is safe," he said.

"If the misinterpretation has offended anyone, then I will apologise too all quarters. My intention was to show that Malaysia is a safe country."

The evening edition of all major vernacular Chinese newspapers yesterday had highlighted Noh's remark, but the item was scrapped in their daily editions today.

The news, which was highlighted by foreign media including the Straits Times and BBC World , was not published in almost all local newspapers.

At a separate press conference this morning, Parliamentary Opposition leader Lim Kit Siang claimed that the blackout was a directive of the Prime Minister's Department.

Noh, who had appeared in the Parliament press room yesterday evening, was said to have told reporters not to play up the issue.

Today, however, he brushed aside the suggestion that he had given any such directive.

"No. I just got to know about the news this morning in the Dewan (Rakyat) from (Backbenchers Club chairperson) Shahrir (Abdul Samad)," he said.

Explanation demanded

On a related development, Lim has filed a motion to cut RM10 from Noh's pay over his remark yesterday.

"The prime minister should direct Noh to openly apologise and retract his arrogant and contemptuous statement," he said, adding that he received calls of outrage against Noh last night after the remark was shown on television.

Backbencher and MCA Youth chief Liow Tiong Lai (BN-Bentong) also demanded an explanation from Noh over his remark.

"This will tarnish the image of the country and it contradicts the government's stance on welcoming visitors," he said at a joint press conference with Dr Wee Ka Siong (BN-Ayer Itam), Lim Bee Kau (BN-Padang Serai) ) and Tan Ah Eng (BN-Gelang Patah).

Liow also criticised the police for being in a stage of denial.

"They should not indulge in a denial syndrome but should admit their weaknesses and rectify these," he added.

Teresa Kok (DAP-Seputeh) has, meanwhile, filed a motion to cut RM10 from the pay of the Inspector-General of Police Mohd Bakri Omar over the scandalous 'naked ear-squats' video-clip which has sparked a public outcry.