Tourism and Culture Minister Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz admitted he made a mistake when he dealt with the diplomatic flap where Ambassador Huang Huikang of China was summoned for his statement made at Petaling Street last Friday.

However, Nazri emphasised that he did not mean to meddle in the affairs of the Foreign Affairs Ministry.

"There is no intention to interfere," he told Malaysiakini in a text message. in response to our questions.

The Umno minister said this when asked to respond to his colleague, Foreign Minister Anifah Aman, who expressed regret that other ministers had butted into the matter without first consulting him.

Huang was summoned to meet Anifah's former deputy, and now Acting Foreign Minister, Hamzah Zainuddin ( photo ), yesterday.

However there has been much confusion about the meeting, as it was initially reported that it had been cancelled.

There was further confusion when Sin Chew Daily quoted Huang as saying that Hamzah told him in their meeting yesterday that Wisma Putra did not call him in.

Hamzah, now domestic trade, co-operatives and consumerism minister, is has not replied to Malaysiakini 's requests for a response.

Nazri earlier said the meeting was called off because Deputy Foreign Minister Reezal Naina Merican 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 summon to Huang was endorsed by Anifah .

The normal practice in cabinet

Explaining this today, Nazri said Huang came to see him on Sunday night, after Huang he called in by Reezal.

"I told the ambassador not to worry because, normally, the foreign minister will call, but not the deputy minister," he explained.

The normal practice in cabinet is only a full minister can act on another minister's behalf when he is not in the country, and not a deputy minister, Nazri said.

"It is also the practice that for China, when it is their national day and if our foreign minister cannot attend, then only another minister can toast to the health of president of China, but not his deputy minster," he said.

That was why, he said, he thought the Foreign Affairs Ministry did not make the decision to summon the ambassador, since the foreign minister (Anifah Aman, photo ) was overseas, he concluded.

"I didn't know that the foreign minister had made the decision because it is not the practice that a deputy minister can call in the ambassador as only another minister representing the foreign minister can do this," said Nazri, who is the MP for Padang Rengas.

"Also, in diplomatic practice, I would be upset if a Malaysian ambassador is summoned by a deputy minister," he said.

Nazri said that he had been appointed as acting foreign minister on a few occasions, and his experience led him to believe things were not in order.

"I thought Anifah would call the ambassador himself when he comes back, because that is within his power, but not his deputy minister’s power," he said.

"Obviously, I was mistaken and did not know that the foreign minister had instructed his deputy minister."

"I have been a minister for 16 years and have covered the previous foreign minister many times on requests and I so came to conclusion that only a minister can act on behalf of the foreign minister, especially the Foreign Affairs Ministry, which is very strict on protocol.

"Certainly, now, that is all changed and I am not aware. But one thing is sure, that I am a very experienced minister and interfering is certainly not my intention," Nazri added.

Nazri is currently in Antalya, Turkey, as a guest of the Turkish government to speak at a conference.

Anifah is in New York for the United Nations General Assembly.

Related reports

Nazri admits mistake in dealing with diplomatic flap

Leadership vacuum in Malaysia led to China's meddling

Utusan shoots itself in foot with prostitution claim

Apology should come from red shirts, not Chinese envoy

Umno, calling all Chinese 'Cina babi' not rude?

Anifah ticks off ministers for butting into Chinese envoy matter

A new tourism campaign perhaps? 'Cina babi welcome to M'sia'