MALAYSIAN Ambassador to the United States Tan Sri Nazri Aziz has clarified that he was invited to the Republican party victory rally last year to mark the victory of Donald J. Trump as the 47th president of US.
This follows the recent uproar over a photograph of him holding up a placard of "Make America Great Again" (MAGA) at the victory rally.
He said he was presented with the placard and decided to snap a photograph with it, as a mere token of remembrance of the event and not for any political reasons.
He urged people not to overreact, saying that it was just a photograph and there is nothing more to it.
"The MAGA sign and its messaging was just a coincidence … there was nothing political or sinister about it."
Lambasting his critics, Nazri said that he was defending his personal liberties as anyone has a right to snap a photograph of their choice.
"It is a freedom of choice. We must respect the views of others and likewise others must respect ours."
He said those who were out to criticise him were bitter losers, who had lost their deposits after contesting in the last general election.
"I am a veteran politician. Such criticism does not annoy me. I take it upon myself to explain myself on such matters."
He said that as the country's ambassador to the US, it was his duty to foster a close rapport with the country.
Nazri, a former cabinet minister and a veteran Umno Supreme Council member, said that there are some 190 foreign diplomats based in the US.
"All of them want to reach out to Trump as US is a major country on global matters," Nazri said in an interview
He said that Malaysia has notified the Trump's office of the former's intentions to have a word with him.
Malaysia has also formally congratulated Trump on his victory.
He also confirmed that his tenure as the nation's Ambassador to US, would be ending soon and he will be returning to Malaysia. - February 7, 2025.
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