“I accept all constructive criticisms with an open heart. If any of our media friends were offended by my words, I retract them and apologise,” he told a press conference at the launch of a recreational park in Ipoh.

“People who know me know that I have always respected freedom of speech. So again, if any of our media friends were offended by my remarks, I withdraw them and apologise.

“Our focus must remain on nation-building. That is what is important.”

In a statement earlier today, Nga said he was aware of the feedback directed at him over the incident and accepted it with an “open heart”.

He said he was willing to meet with the media organisation involved so that the matter could be resolved amicably.

Nga also reiterated his respect for media freedom and denied any intention to offend journalists, who he described as the “backbone” of the government’s information network.

He drew brickbats for reprimanding an Utusan Malaysia reporter at the pre-launch of the “I Lite U” project in Kuala Lumpur on Thursday. He was purportedly asked why the name of the programme was in English instead of Malay.

Nga responded by asking the reporter which media organisation he was from, and said he would “call your chief editors because this concerns national interests”.

He also said the project was aimed at attracting tourists ahead of the Visit Malaysia 2026 campaign, and the English name would give foreign visitors a “sense of belonging”.

Government spokesman Fahmi Fadzil questioned the manner in which Nga responded to the reporter, saying the administration is of the view that reporters have the right to ask questions as part of their responsibility to the public.

The National Union of Journalists Malaysia hit out at “a minister’s unethical” reprimand of a journalist during a press conference, calling it an attempt to intimidate the media.

NUJ did not name the minister involved, but warned that any action that restricts media freedom would only damage the government’s credibility and erode public trust.