Penang opposition leader Azhar Ibrahim kicked off the state legislative assembly sitting today by asking why the chief minister had to apologise to the Johor sultan for his remarks purportedly disparaging the state.

NONE Azhar ( right ), who is Penaga assemblyperson, said the written question was on behalf of all Penangites, who wanted to know why CM Lim Guan Eng apologised when he insisted that he did no wrong.

The question, which was submitted before the state assembly opened today, was rejected by House speaker Abdul Halim Hussein.

Azhar, the state Umno liaison committee secretary, argued that his question on the matter was “straightforward and clear”, and did not have any hidden agenda.

He added that there was nothing malicious in his question as it was directed not at Lim personally but as Penang's chief minister.

“The whole country knows about it... rejecting my question was unreasonable,” he told the Dewan.

azlan Last Month, Lim made his apology to the sultan “out of respect” for an allegedly disparaging remark on Johor’s crime rate. Lim has maintained, however, his innocence.

He insisted that his remarks, which were criticised by BN, had been “misrepresented” by the latter’s media.

He offered the olive branch after The New Straits Times quoted the sultan as saying he was “offended” over Lim’s remark.

Abdul Halim explained that the question involved a sultanate of another state, and should not be brought up for discussion during this sitting.

He added that the sultanate should not be discussed or questioned in this House.

Azhar replied by saying he did not understand why his question should be dismissed when all he needed was a “straight answer”.

“I just want to know why Lim apologised when he said he was not wrong,” Azhar insisted.

Abdul Halim reiterated that he had already explained the reasons for rejecting his question.

“We do not want someting to happen during the debate because it involves the Johor royalty,” he added.

‘I apologised because His Majesty was upset’

Meanwhile, Lim said he had apologised to the sultan because the latter was upset.

Lim had earlier accused 'the BN media' of twisting his words, saying his remarks were made in a closed-door meeting.

“The DAP was set up in 1966, not to fight the king (or sultan) but to fight with Barisan Nasional,” he said, followed by loud thumping on the table from Pakatan Rakyat members.

“We want to fight BN who are corrupted, and not the raja,” he added, and dismissed protests by Umno assemblypersons, who wanted to respond.

NONE Meanwhile, Sungai Dua assemblyperson Jasmin Mohamed ( left ) complained that four of his written questions had been rejected by the speaker.

Jasmin said he raised the issue of hudud law, postal costs, the management of the Sungai Nyior Toll in Prai and the Tan Hak Joo land controversy involving the Seberang Perai Municipal Council.

“All these questions were directed to the state government as we need answers,” he said.

“As for the hudud law, we want to know if it would be implemented within the state,” he added.

Abdul Halim replied that the issues raised by Jasmin had been earlier answered in the last assembly sitting in May.

He said the question on Hudud will not be discussed here but did not explain the reasons for his decision.

“As for the Tan Hak Joo land case, it had been answered in a White Paper presented in the House in the last meeting” he added.