KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 30 — China’s ambassador to Malaysia Dr Huang Huikang has defended himself against accusations of his alleged interference in local matters, explaining that his comments at Petaling Street last week were merely meant to tell the world and China that Malaysia is a safe country to visit.

Huang said he never intended to interfere in the domestic affairs of Malaysia, adding that his visit last Friday to the tourist hotspot popularly referred to as “Chinatown” and the statement he issued during the visit had been misunderstood.

“The statements I made in Chinatown were sincere. I was hoping to tell the world, including Chinese tourists who were coming in the tens of thousands, that Malaysia was safe despite the threat of a race riot the next day,” he was quoted saying in a special briefing to journalists yesterday by The Star Online.

Huang’s remarks on August 25, just a day ahead of a planned gathering by red-shirt protesters at Petaling Street that was later scrapped after concern over a “riot” warning, had previously stirred controversy.

But speaking at length over 90 minutes yesterday, Huang told reporters that he had gone on the ground following enquiries on whether the Chinese embassy here would give out a travel alert to visitors from China, on the back of the US and Australian embassies’ alert of a terrorism plot at the city’s Jalan Alor.

“I had to check for myself whether the embassy should issue the alert too. I chose to go to Petaling Street because it is a cultural landmark and a favourite tourist spot for Chi­nese nationals,” he was quoted saying.

He said his simple and non-political visit, which he said had nothing to do with race or colour, was partly timed to match China President Xi Jinping’s handing out of mooncakes in Seattle.

Huang clarified that his remarks during his own visit to give out mooncakes stemmed from a hypothetical question by one of the reporters gathered at Chinatown ahead of the next day’s alleged rally.

Huang said he was asked if the Chinese government would interfere if there is a massive anti-Chinese riot in Malaysia, but said he had only given a generic reply reflecting China’s long-standing position.

“I told him (the reporter) I could only give a general and standard diplomatic reply without mentioning Malaysia. And I said: ‘The Chinese government has always pursued peaceful co-existence and non-interference in the internal affairs of other countries.

“But if such a situation occurs, and it affects Chinese interests, Chinese people and Chinese enterprises, undermine good diplomatic ties, China will not sit idle. For the past 66 years, our diplomats have been repeating this statement. It is our universal value.’

“I also said that we oppose extremism, racism and terrorism in any form. We also oppose any disruption to public order,” he was also quoted saying by the English-language news site.

He further said that his remarks on Malaysia being a harmonious and stable country was meant for Chinese nationals who believed this country to be anti-Chinese, noting: “My praise and judgment is much more powerful and forceful than any positive statement by a Malaysian.”

Huang also said that Wisma Putra had not sent a “call-in” note or “summon” document over his remarks, adding that he had met several ministers and the consensus was that the isolated incident should not affect the close Malaysia-China relationship.

In a report by Sin Chew Daily, Huang was quoted saying in the same briefing that his visit to Petaling Street was done on September 25 as it was the last weekend before the Mid-Autumn Festival on September 27, stressing that it had nothing to do with any past rallies or the purported rally on September 26.

In backing his point that it was an unofficial visit, Huang noted that he had worn batik and brought along his wife then, also saying that he had brought along two types of mooncakes, with one for Muslims.

Sin Chew Daily also quoted Huang as saying that his one-hour visit to Acting Foreign Affairs Minister Datuk Hamzah Zainuddin was merely a “working meeting”, where issues such as this year’s gains in China and Malaysia’s bilateral ties and the impending visit of China’s leaders to Malaysia were discussed.