This article first appeared in The Edge Financial Daily, on September 28, 2015.

KUALA LUMPUR: The Foreign Ministry has confirmed that it will summon Chinese ambassador to Malaysia, Huang Huikang, to seek a clarification on the statement he made during a visit to Petaling Street, here last Friday, Bernama reported.

The meeting at Wisma Putra in Putrajaya will be held today, it said in a statement.

“During the visit, he was interviewed by the media and subsequent media statements resulting from that interview have attracted attention and caused concern to the Malaysian public.

“The ministry hopes this meeting will help clear the matter,” the statement said.

In a reaction to the government’s move, the Federation of Chinese Associations Malaysia (Hua Zong) said Putrajaya should withdraw its summons, The Malaysian Insider reported.

Hua Zong president Tan Sri Pheng Yin Huah said Huang’s visit to the tourist stretch popularly known as Chinatown was to showcase that the area was safe, since it was one of the places visited by Chinese tourists.

“The government should not call the ambassador for an explanation.

“We urge the prime minister to be concerned over this and order the Foreign Affairs Ministry to cancel its move to call the ambassador for an explanation,” he said in a statement.

Hua Zong is the umbrella body of Chinese guilds and associations in Malaysia.

Former MCA vice-president Gan Ping Sieu said Huang’s visit, though well-meaning, was counter-productive, unnecessary and could be manipulated to the detriment of the country’s frayed racial harmony.

In a statement sighted by The Malaysian Insider, the Chinese embassy said its ambassador’s visit to Petaling Street was an act of goodwill and the envoy had no intention of interfering in Malaysia’s domestic affairs.

The embassy said Huang’s visit was in conjunction with the mid-autumn festival which was celebrated yesterday, and he gave out mooncakes to the traders and visitors at the tourist and shopping hotspot, popularly known as Chinatown.

The embassy said he also made similar visits during major festivities in Malaysia, including the Chinese New Year, Hari Raya and Deepavali.

The statement stated that Petaling Street was one of the major attractions visited by Chinese nationals during their holidays in Malaysia and Huang’s visit was to showcase that the popular stretch was safe and attractive to visit.

“Dr Huang was asked some questions from the media but he only expressed hopes that Malaysia stay united, prosperous and harmonious,” the statement said.

In its reaction to the incident, Umno Youth has slammed the Chinese ambassador for interfering in Malaysia’s affairs.

In a statement on Facebook yesterday, Umno Youth’s international affairs bureau chairman Datuk Mohamed Hazali Abu Hassan said the wing took exception to Huang’s statement that China would not remain idle should racial tensions erupt here.

The Chinese envoy had reportedly said Beijing was opposed to terrorism, extremism and any form of discrimination based on race.

Mohamed Hazali said Huang’s visit was sensitive given the controversy surrounding Petaling Street at this time, adding that the statements the envoy made there raised eyebrows and could have a negative impact on a potentially volatile issue.

“We duly note his statements but according to the norms and protocols of international relations, no foreign power has the right to interfere in the internal affairs of other countries.

“Malaysia has allowed space for freedom of speech and peaceful rallies and would not seek to silence any party from voicing their opinions, even ones from those who are not in agreement with the current government,” he added. — Bernama/The Malaysian Insider