We were misquoted, claims EU envoy over comments on Umno

The EU ambassador's office says Malaysia needs to be politically stable.

PETALING JAYA: The European Union (EU) ambassador to Malaysia today claimed she had been misquoted by an Umno portal.

It was reported that the EU ambassador, Maria Castillo Fernandez, had made a statement that the EU hoped Umno would stay strong and continue heading the current ruling government coalition, Barisan Nasional, to ensure Malaysia’s stability as a country.

She was reported to have said this when meeting Umno secretary-general Tengku Adnan Mansor during her official visit to the Umno headquarters at Menara Datuk Onn on Monday.

The comments were carried in a recent article on Umno Online titled “Kesatuan Eropah Harap UMNO Terus Kukuh Untuk Terus Terajui Negara” (“European Union hopes Umno will continue to be strong to lead the country”).

Fernandez, through the EU media office here, said she will not take any action that could escalate the matter into any serious issue.

The office said they would handle this matter delicately and take appropriate action to rectify the matter.

“We did not state our support for Umno as per the published writing.

“We, however, said that Malaysia needs to be politically stable and Umno has played the role.

“The European Union hopes to continue its role to be involved in development of the economic and political stability in Malaysia,” the media office said when contacted by FMT.