Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng today refuted a report carried by Bernama that he had made disparaging statements about the state of Johor when interviewed on a foreign radio station recently.

"This is because, I had witnesses, namely two officers who were together with me when I was interviewed by the station," he said in Georgetown today.

Last night, Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin was asked to comment on a statement by International Trade and Industry Minister Mustapa Mohamed on Lim allegedly denigrating Johor abroad.

Mustapa had claimed that Lim during an overseas function had made comparisons about public safety between Johor and Penang, which he (Mustapa) said did not reflect the actual situation.

- Bernama