"It was said in a light-hearted manner... as a joke."

Chief Minister Tan Sri Adenan Satem was explaining his tongue-in-cheek suggestion that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak should find an Iban wife in his speech during the programme 'Minda di Tebingan Sungai Kuching' last Saturday.

If some people were offended by his joke, he ask for forgiveness, Adenan said.

"I repeat...I said it in a light-hearted manner, as a joke. Even the Prime Minister himself was laughing... he knew it was meant as a joke.

"But if some people take it wrongly and feel hurt, then I tender my apologies, okay? I hope that is the end of the matter," he said.