DAP national organising secretary Anthony Loke said he was not given any official letter or invitation when Tourism and Culture Minister Nazri Aziz visited Jelebu last Saturday.

Loke, who is also the Chennah assemblyperson, said he only found out about Nazri’s visit after being informed by his friends in the press who were covering the visit.

“I didn’t receive any invitation from the organiser, but I went to Titi village to welcome the minister due to respect, seeing as that is my area.

“In my opinion, it’s not wrong for me to welcome Nazri to Titi village and introduce some interesting tourist attractions in the area.

“His (Nazri) visit to Jelebu had nothing to do with politics, but it was in his capacity as the tourism and culture minister who wanted to see the development of tourism in each district throughout the country,” Loke said in Seremban last night, as reported by Sinar Harian.

Loke also said that Nazri was an open-minded and professional minister, who has never mixed his political leanings with his work.

He also added that they were close friends as they have both served in the parliament for more than two terms.

“MCA should not make this into an issue and bring politics into the visit because clearly, that visit was under the ministry programme, and not political in nature.

“I was there just to welcome him (Nazri) while he visited Titi village. After that, he continued his visits to other places accompanied by Mohd Yunus Rahmat (Klawang assemblyperson),” he said.

Previously, there had been a war of words between Nazri and MCA, with MCA central committee member Ti Lian Ker saying that Nazri appeared closer to DAP.

Nazri had then responded that he is closer to DAP than MCA because it is the former that can garner Chinese support.