KUALA LUMPUR, Sept. 21 -- Former tourism, arts and culture minister Datuk Mohamaddin Ketapi has apologised for his controversial remarks over the 2013 Lahad Datu incursion by Sulu militants.

He said they were made in reference to the then Barisan Nasional (BN) government and were not meant as an insult to Malaysia's security forces.

He added that it was BN's failure to ensure the safety of the nation's borders that plausibly contributed to the intrusion.

"I wish to clarify that my comments during campaigning were misunderstood, as I have never belittled or insulted our security forces who fought to the death to defend the nation's sovereignty from intruders," Mohammadin said in a statement today.

He added that during the ceramah, he h...