KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 29 — Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Anifah Aman saw red after his Cabinet colleagues provided their unsolicited aid in dealing with the budding diplomatic row involving China’s ambassador to Malaysia Dr Huang Huikang.

In a statement late last night, Anifah chided his colleagues for interfering with his ministry’s duties in seeking an explanation from the Chinese envoy over his controversial comment on alleged racism in Malaysia last Friday.

“I am very disappointed because several Cabinet members took action and issued media statements without referring to me first,” the Sabah-born said.

He added that he had “never once cancelled my instruction to call the Chinese Ambassador to Wisma Putra for an explanation”.

“In truth, this matter could be resolved amicably by Wisma Putra without the interference of other ministers. Instead, their interference has given a negative perception among the public,” he said, point blank.

He warned fellow Cabinet members not to repeat their actions and attempts to usurp his ministerial duties in future.

Yesterday, Chinese vernacular paper Sin Chew Daily reported Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Minister Datuk Hamzah Zainudin — currently standing in for Anifah — had reversed Wisma Putra’s decision to summon Huang over the latter’s statement last Friday that Beijing would not hesitate to speak out against any discrimination that may affect the country’s ties with Malaysia.

Huang’s remark was ahead of another street demonstration over the weekend by a pro-government pressure group demanding Malay traders be given trading space in Petaling Street, dubbed the capital city’s Chinatown.