Describing the issue over Dr Huang’s visit to Petaling Street as “very unfortunate”, Ong said that Malaysia and China enjoyed a very close relationship.
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Deputy Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Reezal Naina Merican (pic) stressed that the decision to summon Dr Huang Huikang was made by Wisma Putra after obtaining approval from Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Anifah Aman.
Sin Chew said that after the meeting, Mr Nazri explained the envoy’s “dilemma” to his fellow Cabinet colleagues, who agreed that Dr Huang need not explain himself to the Foreign Ministry.
“What is unusual and broke protocol was when a member of the government administration “jumped” and made loose accusations against the actions taken by Wisma Putra”.
“Actually, this could be resolved positively by Wisma Putra, without the interference of other ministers” he said.
Tourism and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Nazri Abdul Aziz told news portal Malaysiakini yesterday that Reezal did not follow protocol in calling up Huang.
Dr Huang met acting foreign affairs minister Datuk Hamzah Zainuddin in the latter’s office at the Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Ministry in Putrajaya, on Monday.
“But we need to send a signal to other countries that whatever happens in Malaysia, is our business”, he added, according to a Malay Mail Online report.
“It was done because Malaysia is a sovereign country and its dignity should not be trampled on by any foreign country”, he said.
Anifah said this is not the first time that Wisma Putra had summoned a diplomat.
“It should not even be brought to Minister level as such procedures can be handled by a senior officer in Wisma Putra”, he said.
“Wisma Putra only wanted him to confirm whether his comments had been misinterpreted or otherwise”.
He added that Wisma Putra had in the past summoned the American ambassador, the Vatican ambassador and the Singaporean ambassador to a meeting.
He said such a practice was in line with Article 41 of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations 1961.
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Huang courted controversy when he visited Kuala Lumpur’s Chinatown on Friday, where he reportedly said Beijing was opposed to terrorism, extremism and any form of discrimination based on race.
