China’s ambassador to Malaysia must apologise for allegedly interfering in the Southeast Asian country’s domestic affairs or take the next flight home, Malay daily Utusan Malaysia said today.
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“His visit to Petaling Street and meeting up with the traders and business leaders there, for the festive season, moral encouragement or otherwise, are also uncharacteristic of the usual tasks, nor even in the usual course of diplomatic mission, of an ambassador”, Mr Gan said.
The Star Online reported that Wisma Putra, or the Malaysian foreign ministry, will seek an explanation from Dr Huang on his comments made during his visit to Petaling Street on Friday.
“Whatever it may be, Dr Huang must apologise or return back to his country and be replaced with someone who knows more manners”, the paper wrote in its Awang Selamat column, which represents its collective editorial voice.
China, he said, is against any form of extremism, racism or terrorism and will not sit idly or tolerate them. “The Chinese government has always pursued peaceful coexistence in worldwide relationship and non-interference in the internal affairs of other countries”, Malaysiakini news portal quoted Dr Huang as saying.
Officials contacted by The Star Online questioned the ambassador’s remarks.
He said he had met with the head of enforcement from the Domestic Trade, Consumerism and Cooperatives Ministry over his request for action and wanted the ministry to act by Friday.
Malaysian police forces tightened security measures on Saturday in a district of central Kuala Lumpur in the face of continuing rumors that Malay backers of the nation’s embattled Prime Minister Najib Razak were bent on waging a rally through the area in a bid to protest alleged abuses by Chinese merchants, the DPA reported.
“Malaysia views his remarks seriously”.
One of the frontmen of the red shirts, Sungai Besar Umno division chief Jamal Md Yunos, threatened another protest on Sept 26 demanding that Chinatown be opened up to traders of other races and accusing businesses there of selling fake goods.
The September 16 rally had seen some red shirt protesters spew racist rhetoric, and a group of them had also attempted to break past police barricades around Petaling Street.
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“The ambassador hoped to show Petaling Street is still a safe and attractive spot, and so is Malaysia”, it said.
