The Penang branch chairperson of the Malaysian Malay Contractors Association Muhamad Fadzill Hassan has incurred the wrath of the state government by allegedly twisting his own words over the apology he made to Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng.

State domestic trade, consumer and religious committee chairperson Abdul Malik Abul Kassim said Fadzill tried to use the media to twist his words, to say he merely apologised because the association wanted to forge a better relationship with the state.

NONEAbdul Malik (left), who is Batu Maung assemblyperson, then showed reporters an audio recording that clearly stated that Fadzill made the apology, while saying he withdrew his past statements against the state.

"This shows the kind of person he is," said Abdul Malik, urging him to retract his comment in the Malay press yesterday.

When asked what action the state would take if Fadzill stood by his latter comment, Lim who was at the press conference in Komtar, said that it would be difficult to deal with someone who would twist his words.

He added that by doing that, Fadzill showed that he had made the apology without sincerity.

"He himself is perhaps confused...maybe he was misquoted by the press," he said.

"We will leave it for him to decide," he added, saying that Abdul Malik would be contacting Mohammed Fadzill's deputy for further discussion.

Not related to criticism

The duo were responding to Fadzill's statement in Bernama on Sunday, when he clarified that the apology the association made at a meeting with Lim was not related to criticisms it had made against the state government previously.

Fadzill said the apology was made to forge greater understanding and forgiving towards each other.

He explained that he may have used "inappropriate language" in the past when making criticisms against the state government.

"It does not mean the apology was related to the earlier criticisms made," he told reporters.

Fadzill added that the meeting was on the invitation of Lim and concerned 46 Malay contractors in Penang who were alleged to be Umno cronies, which he (Fadzill) explained was not the case.

Last Friday, Muhamad Fadzill Hassan shocked everyone when he tendered an apology to Lim for making various attacks on him.

Lim accepted the apology and said that attacks on himself and the state government were mostly covered by the Malay press.