Utusan Malaysia has offered to publicly apologise to DAP's Lim Kit Siang and his son Guan Eng respectively over an article published on Sept 7.

The article titled "Cuba Sembunyi Kebiadapan DAP (trying to hide DAP's rudeness)," the paper quoted Umno supreme council member Puad Zakarshi saying 'Tanda Putera' was banned in Penang because DAP was afraid of a scene which allegedly depicted a DAP leader urinating at the then-Selangor menteri besar Harun Idris' official residence.

No DAP leader was portrayed doing so in the film and it has been established that the urinating scene, involving a group of Chinese youths, was a work of fiction.

However, the Penang state government, led by Guan Eng, found the urinating scene potentially volatile and had "advised" theatres in the state not to screen the movie.

Following the publication of the article by Utusan, lawyers representing Kit Siang and Guan Eng sent a letter of demand to the newspaper and Puad.

The duo's lawyer Karpal Singh wrote in the letter that Puad and Utusan had "recklessly, falsely and maliciously" uttered slanderous words.

In Utusan's reply on September 13 by senior manager Shirad Anuar, the daily was willing to publish an apology and retraction with "similar prominence and in the same size" to the duo.

During a press conference at the Parliament lobby today, Karpal, along with Kit Siang, said they would accept the apology and will not proceed with legal action.

"We accept the apology, but we hope Utusan practises for responsible journalism in the future," Karpal said.

Kit Siang said that while he was not expecting Utusan to be in favour of Pakatan Rakyat or DAP, they should "at least be honest."