KUALA LUMPUR, May 18 — Film producer Datuk David Teo denied today that he was rude to the prime minister at a National Transformation 2050 (TN50) dialogue, clarifying that he was speaking to the moderator.

Teo also told Star Online that he has forgiven actor Sulaiman Yassin, better known as Mat Over, for slapping him in front of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak while Teo was speaking at the forum.

“It was not my intention to be rude to the prime minister. I just told Rosyam some of the participants were not given equal chance (to talk),” Teo, who is Metrowealth Pictures (MIG) CEO, was quoted saying, referring to the dialogue moderator Datuk Rosyam Nor.

“I have yet to talk to the prime minister. So I have no problem with anybody. How can I be rude to the prime minister?” he added.

Teo reportedly said he told Najib that he did not see it coming.

“I also told the prime minister that I forgive him (Sulaiman), when I shook the prime minister’s hands,” he was quoted saying.

Najib tweeted today that the discussion yesterday “got a little too intense”, but that it was “all good now”.

Sulaiman attacked Teo after the latter criticised the moderator of the event for allegedly ignoring attendees not seated in the front rows.

The New Straits Times today reported Sulaiman as saying he did not regret his actions, while Teo indicated that he will not pursue the matter further.

The TN50 event yesterday was a round table discussion between the PM and the nation’s leading entertainers to find out their aspirations for the entertainment industry by 2050.