Envoy Huang meets with acting foreign minister
China's Ambassador to Malaysia Huang Huikang arrived at the office of Domestic Trade, Co-operatives and Consumerism Minister Hamzah Zainuddin, who is acting Foreign Minister, this morning.
Huang arrived at Hamzah’s office about 11.35am, with an aide.
Former minister Ong Ka Ting, who is adviser to Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak on China, arrived earlier.
Huang was called in by Wisma Putra to explain the statement he issued when he visited Petaling Street last Friday.
Hamzah was deputy foreign minister until July's cabinet reshuffle which saw him made full minister.
Foreign Minister Anifah Aman is in New York for the United Nations General Assembly.
Huang went in to meet Hamzah at 12.20pm and gave waiting journalists the slip 90 minutes later when his official car sped off at about 1.50pm.
A spokesperson for the domestic trade, co-operatives and consumerism ministry said Wisma Putra will issue an official statement later.
"The minister will not give a press conference," he said.
Earlier, Tourism Minister Nazri Aziz claimed the meeting was called off as Deputy Foreign Minister Reezal Naina Merican (photo) breached protocol by calling in Huang.
Nazri said only an acting foreign minister can do so, in the absence of the foreign minister.
However, Reezal denied this claim and said the call-in was endorsed by Anifah.
Huang during his Sept 25 visit to Petaling Street said China will not intervene in domestic affairs but will not sit idle if China's interests are affected.
His visit on the eve of a later-cancelled rally by a Malay group, at the traditionally ethnic Chinese trading area in Kuala Lumpur, was seen by Umno and Perkasa as foreign intervention.
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