Anifah asks other ministers not to interfere in Wisma Putra's affairs

Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Anifah Aman has expressed his disappointment over some Ministers’ action in meddling in the Ministry’s affairs.

Anifah, in a statement said the action by some ministers in issuing media statements with regard to China’s ambassador, Dr Huang Huikang’s recent visit to Petaling Street has 'cast a negative perception in the eyes of the public'.

“This matter can be resolved amicably (by Wisma Putra) without any interference from the other Ministers. It should not even be brought to Minister level as such procedures can be handled by a senior officer in Wisma Putra,” he said.

Anifah, who is in New York said it was a normal procedure and not the first time Wisma Putra had done so.

“Wisma Putra had made similar requests to the US Embassy, Vatican and Singapore High Commission in the past. This is a normal procedure and done according to Article 41 of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations 1961,” he added.

Anifah said Malaysia as a sovereign country would also need to emphasise on its stand to China, clearly.

Huang met acting Acting Foreign Affairs Minister Datuk Hamzah Zainuddin in the latter's office at the Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Ministry in Putrajaya on Monday.

The Chinese envoy on Friday went on a walkabout to Jalan Petaling in conjunction with the annual Mid-Autumn Festival.

Huang was quoted as saying that the Chinese government was opposed to extremism, terrorism and any forms of racial discrimination in Malaysia. The remarks, made ahead of a planned Red Shirt rally at Petaling Street, have been lambasted by certain quarters as an attempt to interfere in the country’s domestic affairs.

Malay Armed Forces Veterans Association president, Mohd Ali Baharom or known as Ali Tinju on Friday announced the cancellation of the planned rally to allow local authorities to do its investigation on the demands to allow Malay traders to operate in Petaling Street.

In a separate statement Monday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei at a briefing in Beijing cited Huang's visit as a normal activity.

Hong stressed that China and Malaysia are friendly neighbours and hope that Malaysia can maintain national unity and stability and ethnic harmony.

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