It was not true that the Chinese government imposed a directive to ban Muslim civil servants from fasting during Ramadan in its north-west Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, says China’s Ambassador to Malaysia Huang Hui Kang.

“I don’t think it is true because at least as far as I know, there is not such directive,” he said.

Huang was responding to a question posed by Lembah Pantai MP Nurul Izzah Anwar ( standing, left in photo ) today in a special roundtable meeting with business stakeholders in Kuala Lumpur today.

Instead, Huang suggested Nurul Izzah and her colleagues to pay a visit to the region in order to get a clearer picture of the multicultural exchange there.

It was reported that Muslim civil servants, students and members of the Communist Party of China (CPC) were not allowed to fast during the holy month of Ramadan in several government departments.

Malaysian opposition members, including several DAP assemblyperson had openly urged Putrajaya to pressure China over such oppression on the minority.

A spokesperson for the Xinjiang government, Hou Hanmin, was quoted as saying that the authorities do encourage residents to eat properly for study and work purposes, but do not force them to eat during Ramadan.

However, Huang stressed that Muslim culture in China was expressed in a peaceful manner.

“China’s policy towards minority groups is to have co-existence of different groups in the country,” he added.

Despite the press pointing out later that the fasting ban news had been widely reported, Huang said that those in doubt should get confirmation from China’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson.

Meanwhile, DAP's Damansara Utama assemblyperson Yeo Bee Yin ( right ) said Putrajaya should apply pressure on Beijing over the alleged transgression against the Muslim community.

"We are fully aware of the importance of forming a good relationship with China as an economic powerhouse.

"However... In the spirit of freedom of religion and the protection of the minority rights, we hope that the Malaysian government will not keep quiet over Beijing’s government banning of fasting in the holy month of Ramadan in Xinjiang," she said in a statement today.

Yeo said Malaysia as an equal partner can voice its opinion without hurting diplomatic relations with China.