Tourism and Culture Minister Nazri Abdul Aziz offered a razor-sharp retort after Negeri Sembilan MCA leader Lim Chin Fui criticised him for appearing alongside a DAP lawmaker.

Emphasising on the need to embrace a more mature form of politics, he said there would be no issues if Negeri Sembilan MCA wanted to hug PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang.

"In fact, I want to suggest if he (Lim) wants to hug Hadi, kiss his cheeks three times like in the Malay culture.

"Even with the late (PAS spiritual leader) Haron Din, when the prime minister met him, they shook hands and hugged. What’s wrong with that?" he told FMT.

On Sunday, Lim took a swipe at Nazri on Facebook over his visit to Pekan Titi in Jelebu the day before where he was accompanied by DAP’s Seremban MP Anthony Loke.

Accusing the minister of "forgetting his identity", the MCA leader expressed concern that the opposition would take credit for BN's efforts.

However, Nazri described this argument as “stupid” as he had visited Pekan Titi in his personal capacity, and therefore DAP would not be able to capitalise on it.

He questioned how the Chinese would feel when MCA opposed help being extended to the community by a minister.

"I went to Pekan Titi as I wanted to help the Chinese there develop their area, instead MCA got angry.

"So how are the Chinese not angry at MCA?” he asked.

Nazri said he went Pekan Titi to promote tourism in the area but was boycotted by MCA. Instead it was DAP which showed him respect.

“I would have held their (MCA) hands, but they decided to boycott me by not coming down to join me during my visit.

"The one who came was Loke. He respected me and came down," he said.

Nazri said if MCA hoped to win in the next general election, they need to start respecting the will of the people.

"Even if we lose, we have to respect the decision that the public has made. Because the people are king. They pick us, so we have to be good to them.

"Correct yourself or you won’t win. Like us Umno, even when we lost (certain seats to PAS), when we meet, we shake hands. That is Umno’s style," he added.

The Padang Rengas MP said his cordial interaction with a DAP lawmaker was mature politics and urged MCA to practice the same, even with PAS.