This is the statement issued by the Embassy of the People's Republic of China over the controversial visit of its Ambassador Huang Huikang to Petaling Street on September 25, a day before the planned 'Red Shirt' rally at the Chinatown.
![]()
"ON Sept 25, Chinese Ambassador Huang Huikang and his wife visited Petaling Street on the occasion of the Mid-Autumn Festival, which falls today.
This is truly a goodwill visit as the ambassador enjoyed celebrating this important traditional festival with the local communities.
He paid such visits many times, such as on Spring Festival, Hari Raya and Deepavali.
This visit became more remarkable as many Chinese were planning their overseas trip for the forthcoming long holidays and the recent news about this landmark really aroused the concern of many Chinese tourists about their security while travelling in Malaysia.
Ambassador Huang wished to show that Petaling Street is still a peaceful and attractive destination and so is Malaysia.
The Mid-Autumn Festival symbolises union and family in the Chinese culture.
The ambassador brought some mooncakes to the businessmen and vendors at Petaling Street and prepared some halal mooncakes, especially for the Malay shopkeepers.
He talked with them as well as tourists, and wished them a happy festival.
By the end of the visit, he gladly took some of the questions by media friends there, who had been stationed at Petaling Street in recent days.
Instead of a statement, he merely answered their questions in general, wishing all Malaysians and Malaysia to continue to be united, harmonious and prosperous, in which he expressed great confidence.
Ambassador Huang said he was happy to see Petaling Street was not soly operated by the Chinese, but also traders of various races. Traders were working together in harmony.
He hoped all Malaysians, regardless of race or religion, would co-exist peacefully and stay united.
Ambassador Huang would like to reaffirm his goodwill and reiterate that he has no intention to interfere in Malaysia’s domestic affairs at all.
The last thing he would like to see is that his goodwill be misunderstood, twisted or used against the China-Malaysia friendly ties.
He especially regrets to see some politicians with ulterior motives playing games with his visit and using this against the Malaysian government that he fully respects and supports."
![]()
The visit caused uproar among some Malaysians, especially the Malays who perceived it as Beijing's 'twisted diplomacy' in providing protection to the the Malaysian Chinese. It was also seen as a blatant interference in Malaysia's domestic affairs.
No need to list the NGOs, politicians and quarters who slammed Huang's visit. Most are Malays but there are also Malaysian Chinese concerned over his 'intention'.
It has prompted Wisma Putra to summon the envoy for his explanation. What was supposed to be a 'goodwill gesture' has boiled into a diplomatic issue. Perhaps the timing of his visit (he has done it several times, as claimed) was questionable (especially to the Malays who supported the Red Shirt rally).
However, there is nothing wrong with that. Diplomats in Malaysia are free to move around. We don't impose any restriction, unless they wish to organise an official event anywhere that demands them to seek approval or acknowledge the Foreign Ministry.
Our diplomatic relation with China is at its best and they are our largest trading partner. Our engagement with them runs deep, from politics, social, economy and people-to-people. We need to keep and protect that as it is.
The issue here is the timing of his visit. I personally don't think the envoy harbours any ill feeling towards the Malays. In fact, the visit was planned long before the Red Shirt rally took place on September 16 and the cancelled September 26 street demo.
Maybe Huang himself was not aware of the sentiments clouding the nation now or didn't take it seriously because of the already slot-in social visit to Petaling Street. There could be misunderstanding that has led to misinterpretation by many Malaysians.
It is Wisma Putra's right to summon him but I hope his explanation will put an end to the askance against him, his office and Beijing.
Even presidents and prime ministers err!
This is truly a goodwill visit as the ambassador enjoyed celebrating this important traditional festival with the local communities.
He paid such visits many times, such as on Spring Festival, Hari Raya and Deepavali.
This visit became more remarkable as many Chinese were planning their overseas trip for the forthcoming long holidays and the recent news about this landmark really aroused the concern of many Chinese tourists about their security while travelling in Malaysia.
Ambassador Huang wished to show that Petaling Street is still a peaceful and attractive destination and so is Malaysia.
The Mid-Autumn Festival symbolises union and family in the Chinese culture.
The ambassador brought some mooncakes to the businessmen and vendors at Petaling Street and prepared some halal mooncakes, especially for the Malay shopkeepers.
He talked with them as well as tourists, and wished them a happy festival.
By the end of the visit, he gladly took some of the questions by media friends there, who had been stationed at Petaling Street in recent days.
Instead of a statement, he merely answered their questions in general, wishing all Malaysians and Malaysia to continue to be united, harmonious and prosperous, in which he expressed great confidence.
Ambassador Huang said he was happy to see Petaling Street was not soly operated by the Chinese, but also traders of various races. Traders were working together in harmony.
He hoped all Malaysians, regardless of race or religion, would co-exist peacefully and stay united.
Ambassador Huang would like to reaffirm his goodwill and reiterate that he has no intention to interfere in Malaysia’s domestic affairs at all.
The last thing he would like to see is that his goodwill be misunderstood, twisted or used against the China-Malaysia friendly ties.
He especially regrets to see some politicians with ulterior motives playing games with his visit and using this against the Malaysian government that he fully respects and supports."
The visit caused uproar among some Malaysians, especially the Malays who perceived it as Beijing's 'twisted diplomacy' in providing protection to the the Malaysian Chinese. It was also seen as a blatant interference in Malaysia's domestic affairs.
No need to list the NGOs, politicians and quarters who slammed Huang's visit. Most are Malays but there are also Malaysian Chinese concerned over his 'intention'.
It has prompted Wisma Putra to summon the envoy for his explanation. What was supposed to be a 'goodwill gesture' has boiled into a diplomatic issue. Perhaps the timing of his visit (he has done it several times, as claimed) was questionable (especially to the Malays who supported the Red Shirt rally).
However, there is nothing wrong with that. Diplomats in Malaysia are free to move around. We don't impose any restriction, unless they wish to organise an official event anywhere that demands them to seek approval or acknowledge the Foreign Ministry.
Our diplomatic relation with China is at its best and they are our largest trading partner. Our engagement with them runs deep, from politics, social, economy and people-to-people. We need to keep and protect that as it is.
The issue here is the timing of his visit. I personally don't think the envoy harbours any ill feeling towards the Malays. In fact, the visit was planned long before the Red Shirt rally took place on September 16 and the cancelled September 26 street demo.
Maybe Huang himself was not aware of the sentiments clouding the nation now or didn't take it seriously because of the already slot-in social visit to Petaling Street. There could be misunderstanding that has led to misinterpretation by many Malaysians.
It is Wisma Putra's right to summon him but I hope his explanation will put an end to the askance against him, his office and Beijing.
Even presidents and prime ministers err!