Hours after defending its decision to publish a cartoon depicting Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad with a pig's snout, opposition PAS' organ Harakah today issued an apology over the matter.

In a two-paragraph statement, editor Zulkifli Zulong said Harakah had no intention to humiliate anyone by publishing the caricature, drawn by cartoonist Zulkifli Anwar Haq - whose pen-name is Zunar - in the paper's latest edition.

Elaborating on the statement, Zulkifli told malaysiakini that the decision was made because the bi-monthly publication did not want to prolong the controversy over the issue.

"We admit that we have made a mistake in publishing the cartoon which can be seen as personally attacking the leader (Mahathir) or anyone for that matter. PAS' struggle is not based on personal attacks against anyone," he explained.

He added that the apology is necessary as the cartoon had caused a 'misunderstanding' which he did not anticipate.

"That is my mistake on my part as the editor and now I will have to take the consequences," he said.

Severe criticisms

Zulkifli said that the incident will not affect the relationship that the publication has built with Zunar, adding that Harakah would continue to accept the cartoonist's contribution.

The offensive cartoon came under severe criticisms from the state-owned broadcasting station RTM which had been highlighting the issue for the past three days in its main news bulletins.

Yesterday, the government's Backbencher's Club chairperson Mohd Zin Mohamad said that the publication of the cartoon was "most irresponsible and downright rude".

Under normal circumtances, Muslims are forbidden to touch or consume pigs.

Meanwhile, Zunar said the retraction was within Harakah 's right as the publisher.

"But I stand by my piece. It wasn't my intention to equate anyone with the animal," he said.

However, he declined to comment on whether he would continue contributing to the PAS' organ, stating that he did not want to make any rash decision.

"I don't know yet if I would want to continue contributing. But rest assured that my support to PAS, the Barisan Alternatif and my struggle to reformasi remain strong as ever," he added.