Councillor apologises over letter with Chinese, English translations (Updated)

JOHOR BARU: A councillor who courted controversy by issuing an official letter with Chinese and English translations to the original in Bahasa Malaysia, has issued an open apology over the matter.
Chan Wei Khjan, from the Iskandar Putri City Council (MBIP) said he had also met mayor Adid Azhari Daud to provide an explanation on the matter.
"This is my technical mistake, I apologise," he said, adding that he respects the national language and had no intention to discriminate against the use of Bahasa Malaysia.
Chan said he has also submitted an explanation letter to the mayor which would also be sent to Sultan of Johor Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar.
Speaking to the press here following his meeting with the mayor, he said he would also explain the matter to Sultan Ibrahim, if he was granted an audience.
It was reported on Wednesday that Sultan Ibrahim had voiced his annoyance on the matter.
He said all parties must respect the use of Bahasa Malaysia in any official communication pertaining to matters involving the state government or local authorities.
In the letter, the MBIP councillor had called on residents to attend a dialogue session on a plan to demolish a roadblock.
The letter was written in Bahasa Malaysia, but the attachment letter with similar content was in Chinese and English.
Earlier today, a non-governmental organisation submitted a memorandum of protest to the mayor on the matter.
Members from Gabungan NGO Negri Johor led by Umno's Tenggara MP Datuk Seri Dr Adham Baba and Pandak Ahmad, chairman of the Gelang Patah Malay Heritage Group, handed over the memorandum to the mayor.
Referring to the letter which went viral on social media, Adham said MBIP should dismiss Chan for not issuing the letter in Bahasa Malaysia.
The memorandum also called for MBIP to retract the letter.