ALOR STAR: Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (PPBM) deputy president Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir has claimed that a Malay daily misquoted him in a Friday report alleging that he experiences an “identity crisis” whenever abroad.
His press secretary Mohd Fisol Jaafar on Saturday said that a Sinar Harian reporter had quoted Mukhriz out of context in the published article.
Fisol clarified to the New Straits Times that Mukhriz was speaking about Malaysians in general, who are ashamed by the nation's "tainted image" in the international arena.
In the Sinar Harian article, Mukhriz is quoted as saying that he is sad that Malaysia is now infamous for the wrongdoings of its leaders, instead of its progress.
“When I travel abroad or perform the umrah, I am asked which country I am from. I am embarrassed to admit I am a Malaysian, so I answer 'Brunei'.
“When I answer Malaysia, people would ask me why there are so many problems (in Malaysia) – it was magnificent and great (in the past), but (in a ) terrible (state) at present,” Sinar Harian reported him as saying during a breakfast meeting with residents of Kampung Jernang, in Baling, Kedah, on Friday morning.
Mukhriz, who is former Kedah menteri besar, said the Pakatan Harapan pact would put Malaysia on the right track again.