The Umno supreme council member said his earlier statement criticising Kuok over the allegation was based on what Raja Petra Kamarudin wrote in his blog and which had not been denied by Kuok.
“I will not (apologise). My statement was based on an allegation made by Raja Petra which had not been denied (by Kuok),” he told a news conference after signing a memorandum of understanding to promote tourism cooperation between Malaysia and Senegal here today.
News portal Malaysiakini had reported that Nazri challenged Kuok to return to Malaysia and contest in the coming general election.
“Don’t be a ‘pondan’ (pansy). Don’t be an ‘ayam betina’ (hen) that hides behind walls in Hong Kong,” he was quoted as saying.
Kuok, however, has denied funding the DAP to oust the government as alleged by Raja Petra.
The tycoon’s office said Kuok reserved the right to sue Raja Petra over the allegation.
Nazri, who is also the tourism and culture minister, said it was good that Kuok denied the allegation but he should have done it much earlier.
“If he had denied the allegation immediately after it appeared, the situation would not have come to this stage,” he said.
He said it was a good thing that Kuok had nothing to do with opposing the government, and he thanked him for it.
“I welcome it and I wish to say to him that all the statements made earlier were based on reports which had not been denied.
“We didn’t know that perhaps the blogger had certain information that we were not aware of,” he said.
Nazri hoped Kuok would take legal action against Raja Petra to clear his name because it was not enough to make a mere denial.