After offering an apology for perceived criticism of the Johor sultan's RM520,000 bid for the WWW 1 car number-plate, Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin now says his comments were “heavily influenced” by tabloid Kosmo!

The former Perak menteri besar told reporters in Parliament today that the Malay language daily, which is wholly-owned by Utusan Melayu (Malaysia) Bhd, had been playing up the issue since early April.

NONE “ Kosmo! has been following up on the bid for the number plate and in one of its reports on May 25, there were infographics stating that the RM520,000 could have been used to purchase a three-storey house in Bangi, Selangor, or a BMW, or a shoplot in a business district in Shah Alam or 2.777kg of 916-certified gold,” Nizar said.

“My tweets were misrepresented as criticism of the sultan, when the tweets were not directed at anyone in particular. Kosmo! said RM520,000 can be used to buy a three-storey house, I said it could be used to build 20 houses under the low-cost housing scheme."

Nevertheless, Nizar said he has requested an audience with Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar to "apologise" and to explain his tweet in person.

He also said he is looking into suing Utusan Malaysia and TV3 f or taking his tweet out of context and for “falsely accusing" him of saying that the sultan had utilised public funds.

“I never said that. I was just giving my opinion as a member of the public, a MP and former menteri besar. I apologise to Tuanku and will seek an audience to explain," he added.

Perkasa Youth chief Irwan Fahmi Idris, however, has described Nizar's attempt to apologise as unsincere, and challenged him to return the titles awarded by the Malay rulers to prove his sincerity and obedience.

Police complete probe 

In Nizar's defence, Perak PAS deputy chief Raja Ahmad Al-Hiss presented more than half a dozen reports by Kosmo! on the issue, prior to the criticism of Nizar's tweet.

NONE Ahmad (right) said Kosmo! which has a readership of some 1.2 million is far more influential, adding that the newspaper had also published a variety of caricatures mocking the bid up to May 30.

Nizar's outburst came after Sultan Ibrahim had placed the RM520,000 bid and reportedly beat 10,000 other bidders for the car registration number.

“ RM520k bolih dibelanjakan membantu rakyat melayu Johor yg masih ramai miskin serta memerlukan bantuan utk kprluan hidup, bina 20 rumah PPRT! ” (RM520,000 can be spent on poor Malays in Johor who need help to survive, and build 20 Hardcore Poor Development Programme houses!)” Nizar tweeted.

Incensed, the Tunku Mahkota of Johor, Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim, countered on Twitter that public funds were not used in the bid for the number-plate.

Johor police subsequently received 46 reports against Nizar and  recorded his statement for investigation under the Sedition Act.

Sinar Harian online today quoted Johor police chief Mohd Mokhtar Mohd Shariff as saying the investigation has been completed and that the papers will be sent to the Attorney-General's Chambers for further action.

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