It took an opposition threat to elicit a response, but the parliamentarian for Jerai has apologised to women for a crude remark that he made as acting permanent chairperson of the recent Umno general assembly.

Badruddin Amiruldin had added to a Wanita Umno delegate's debate, during which she had complained about the short skirt worn by AirAsia female cabin crew.

As she claimed that this exposed their legs and thighs, Badruddin chimed in with a question as to whether "the tunnel" could be seen.

Today, he explained that he had no intention to insult anyone when he said this.

"I did not mean to offend anyone, and I sincerely apologise to all women," he told reporters at the Parliament lobby.

Predictably, he claimed that he had meant the remark as a joke and that he was not referring to any body part of the female anatomy.

This was the exchange between Wanita Umno Kubang Kerian chief Zaleha Hussin and Badruddin at last week's Umno AGM.

Zaleha: The provocative uniform must be changed to something reflective of Eastern values and which complies with the values of Islam.

Badruddin: I think their skirts are too short.

Zaleha: Cloth can be bought.

Badruddin: I think they don't have enough cloth.

Zaleha pressed her point further by relating how the uniform had 'affected' one of her friends, leading Badruddin to pass another cheeky remark.

Zaleha: She said a flight attendant sat in front of her and she could see her legs, thighs and knees. She was so embarrassed!

Badruddin: Did she see the tunnel? [crowd roars with laughter]

Today, opposition party DAP had threatened to start a signature campaign against him for making the remark which its chairperson and Bukit Gelugor MP Karpal Singh described as demeaning to women.

News reports today said that Karpal had, in the Dewan Rakyat yesterday, called on Badruddin to apologise publicly. He also said Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi should punish the member for Jerai.

'Propaganda tool'

In another development, the government was told to change the name of Radio Television Malaysia (RTM) to 'Radio Television Barisan Nasional (RTBN)'.

While asking a supplementary question today, parliamentary Opposition Leader Lim Kit Siang (DAP-Ipoh Timur) told Deputy Information Minister II Chia Kwang Chye that the name change would reflect the fact that the state-run broadcast station "is a tool for government propaganda".

Lim also asked whether RTM is a free and fair media operation.

"If RTM is of the view that the Bersih rally is not part of Malaysian culture, then it should not have covered the rally headed by (Umno Youth deputy chief) Khairy Jamaluddin," said Lim.

"RTM practises double standard. It' s plain hypocrisy."

(In July last year, Umno Youth had demanded at a protest that the US and Isreal end the violence in the Middle East, while US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice was in Kuala Lumpur for a meeting with Asean leaders.)

Responding, Chia said that RTM is not an opposition media and that it is a tool to explain government policies and projects to the people.

Retorted Lim: "If (it remains) RTM, it must give fair and free coverage to benefit (all) Malaysians. Since it does not, (you should) change the name to RTBN."

Chong Eng (DAP-Bukit Mertajam) who agreed with Lim, urged the television station to use Barisan Nasional funds and not money collected from taxpayers for its operations.

This led to a shouting match in the Dewan Rakyat. However, deputy speaker Lim Si Cheng brough the situation under control and ordered the debate to be continued.