PADANG SERAI: The Perikatan Nasional (PN) candidate in the Padang Serai parliamentary seat election has given his statement to the police over his remarks calling the federal unity government a "Kerajaan Zina" (Government of Adultery).
However, Datuk Azman Nasrudin categorically denied he had insulted the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah.
"I gave my statement to the police last night," he told reporters during his door-to-door campaign in Kampung Nesa here today.
It was understood that Azman, who is also the state executive councillor and Lunas assemblyman, had given his statement at the Kulim Hi-Tech police station at midnight today.
It was also learnt that Azman was summoned to have his statement recorded following a police report lodged against him over the remarks.
Although he admitted that he was a bit harsh in choosing his words, Azman categorically denied he had insulted the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.
"Yes, I was a bit harsh that night because the government had just been formed.
"I was talking about Umno going against the resolution made during the party's general assembly in 2021, which decided on 'No Anwar, No DAP'.
"This has angered Umno's grassroots members because it went against their ideology.
"However, do not use the formation of this unity government as an excuse as it was decreed by His Majesty.
"I was referring to Umno's principles and struggles and the party grassroots members' unhappiness over their leaders' willingness to sell off its struggles cheaply," he said.
On Umno president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi's statement today claiming that the "No Anwar, No DAP, No Bersatu" policy was only meant for before the 15th General Election (GE15), Azman said Umno should have remained true to its principles.
"You have to ask Zahid why we was willing to sell off Umno's struggles. Is he's trying to get himself free from his court cases? Did he sell off Umno struggles to protect his self-interest?," he asked.
Yesterday, Pakatan Harapan (PH) candidate Dr Mohamad Sofee Razak and Barisan Nasional (BN) candidate Datuk Sivarraajh Chandran for the Padang Serai parliamentary seat said Azman should apologise to the royal institution for his insensitive remarks about the recently-formed unity government.
They said Azman's remarks were inappropriate as the idea of forming a unity government was proposed by the king himself.
Earlier today, state PH Information chief Datuk Dr Ismail Salleh lodged a police report against Azman at the Kota Setar police station.
A Padang Serai Amanah leader is expected to lodge a report at the Kulim police station this afternoon over the same issue.