Chinese envoy says ‘no’, sources say ‘yes’ Wisma Putra has summoned him

Chinese ambassador Dr Huang Huikang says he is not aware that the Foreign Affairs Ministry wants him to explain the remarks he made after visiting Petaling Street last week. – The Malaysian Insider file pic, September 28, 2015.

Confusion surrounds whether or not Chinese ambassador Dr Huang Huikang has been summoned to Wisma Putra after a vernacular press report said acting foreign affairs minister Datuk Hamzah Zainuddin has overturned the decision to haul up the envoy to explain his remarks in Petaling Street on Friday.

A Foreign Affairs Ministry source told The Malaysian Insider that Huang would be meeting Zainuddin in his office at the Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Ministry at 11.30am today.

Huang, who is attending a forum in Istana Hotel in the city centre, however, told reporters he was unaware he has been summoned to Wisma Putra, adding that he only read about it in the newspapers.

This comes after Sin Chew Daily reported that the envoy did not receive any official notice to present himself to Wisma Putra to explain his actions.

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.

It was then reported that Huang would be summoned to Wisma Putra to explain his actions.

Petaling Street was the scene of chaos on September 16 when police had to use water cannon to disperse a crowd of “red shirt” protesters who tried to force their way into the area.

One of the rally leaders, Datuk Jamal Md Yunos, had earlier threatened to protest again in Chinatown on Saturday to demand the authorities raid traders there whom he alleged were involved in selling fake goods and running illegal businesses.

The rally was later called off.

- TMI