Gov't wants envoy's explanation over Petaling Street remarks
China’s ambassador to Malaysia Huang Huikang has been asked to officially explain his statement during a visit to Petaling Street and whether it was misconstrued, said Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
Zahid said the cabinet, which he chaired yesterday, had unanimously agreed to this in order to end the debate and polemics on the matter.
“I want to inform that the Chinese ambassador has been called to Wisma Putra and this is a normal practice via diplomatic channels," he told a press conference today.
"If he did say it, then Wisma Putra will advise him not to meddle in internal politic as enshrined in Article 41, Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations 1961," he said.
"If he said his statement was misinterpreted, then Wisma Putra will ask him to issue a statement as to what had happened," he said.
Zahid said this must be done to correct the perception as certain opposition leaders and the social media had given the issue a negative twist.
However, he cautioned the media not to use the word 'summon'.
"I stress that this is a call-in, not summon," he added.
Zahid's statement today differs from what Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Wee Ka Siong ( photo ) expressed yesterday that cabinet had discussed and agreed the envoy had no intention to interfere in domestic affairs.
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.
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