PETALING JAYA: Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir says his not greeting Sultan Ibrahim Ibni Almarhum Sultan Iskandar during the wake for former Pahang ruler was unintentional, but will not use it as an excuse.

The Kedah Mentri Besar said he had already sent a letter to the Johor Sultan and his family, and hoped his apology would be accepted.

He said his oversight was because Kedah ruler, Sultan Sallehuddin Sultan Badlishah, who he was accompanying at the time, was about to begin prayer recital.

"His Royal Highness the (Kedah) Sultan was already in front and was about to begin the prayer recital, so I wanted to get there quickly.

"But on my way, I saw the Yang di-Pertuan Agong (Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustaffa Billah Shah), so I greeted him to express my condolences and continued (on my way)," he said in a video posted by the Mukhriz Mahathir fan club Facebook page late Friday (May 24) night.

According to the Facebook page, Mukhriz was speaking to reporters after a breaking fast event in Langkawi with Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who is his father.

"Whatever it is, it was my mistake, and I apologise for making that mistake.

"Yes, it was unintentional but I cannot use that as an excuse. I should have stopped to greet (Sultan Ibrahim)," he said.

A video clip of him purportedly refusing to greet the Johor Ruler and Tunku Mahkota Johor Tunku Ismail Ibni Sultan Ibrahim at Istana Abu Bakar on Thursday (May 23) has courted controversy.

Mukhriz and the Johor royal family were there to pay their last respects to former Sultan of Pahang, Paduka Ayahanda Sultan Ahmad Shah Al-Musta'in Billah Ibni Almarhum Sultan Abu Bakar Ri'ayatuddin Al Muadzam Shah.