Amid what is developing into a diplomatic fiasco, Chinese ambassador Huang Huikang said he only learnt that Wisma Putra called him for a meeting through the newspapers.

Huang dismissed the issue of his visit to Petaling Street on the eve of a planned red shirts rally as a hot potato, when asked if the matter has been resolved.

"Since when has it become an issue? " he asked when approached by the media.

He said his good intentions towards Malaysia, shown by the walkabout, should not be misinterpreted.

"I have told the China tourists in a practical way that Kuala Lumpur is a safe, prosperous and that (the country has) shown kindness to foreign tourists," he said.

He urged China tourists to visit Malaysia during their National Day public holiday.

"I hope my good intention would not be misinterpreted, " he said at the Maritime Silk Road forum at Kuala Lumpur this morning.

When asked about Umno-owned daily Utusan Malaysia urging him to either apologise over his remarks at Petaling Street or go back to China, the diplomat refused to comment.

"Sorry. No comment, none," he replied with a smile.

Umno quarters attacked Huang for his Petaling Street mooncake festival visit that coincided with the eve of a later-aborted by Malay groups.

However, Wisma Putra’s directive for Huang to appear at their office today to explain his actions is now mired in contradictions.

Tourism and Culture Minister Nazri Abdul Aziz said the call for a meeting has been aborted, saying the move was not the proper protocol .

'China will always be your parental home'

Earlier in his speech, Huang said he hopes the Malaysian Chinese commnity will be happy in Malaysia and live harmoniously with other ethnicities.

"I want to reiterate that regardless of where you are or how many generations later, China is always your warmest 'wife's parental home'," he said.

The term 'wife's parental home' refers to how a woman still has support from her parents and can return to her parental home, if there is a dispute in her marital home.

It largely refers to a feeling of kinship and affinity among the Chinese diaspora to China.

"A neighbour is wishing its neighbour well; a relative wishes all relatives overseas well," Huang said.

Meanwhile, International Trade and Industry Minister II Ong Ka Chuan (photo) said the sensitive matter should be handled by professionals and that Wisma Putra and the China Embassy should resolve it as soon as possible.

"Let the professionals handle the issue, outsiders' subjective views would only aggravate the matter," he said at a press conference later.

The MCA secretary-general added the "unfortunate" diplomatic flap over the Petaling Street visit did not impact Malaysia-China ties.

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