Kuala Lumpur: The dragon carving souvenir recently presented to Chinese President Xi Jinping was a personal gift and not an official government representation, Transport Minister Anthony Loke Siew Fook said. Loke, who is also DAP secretary-general, emphasized that the souvenir was a Malaysian-made item from Royal Selangor and given as a token of appreciation, adding that the matter should not be blown out of proportion.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Loke stated, “It was a personal gift (to Xi), I never said it represented the government,” addressing reporters after the monthly assembly of the Ministry of Transport (MoT) and the ‘MADANI 2025 Raikan Kasih’ event. The presentation took place during President Xi’s recent visit, where Loke gifted a plaque featuring a dragon carving before the Chinese President departed for Cambodia after a three-day state visit to Malaysia from April 15 to April 17.

The gift presentation drew criticism due to its location near the back entrance and the choice of a dragon motif, which some deemed inappropriate. However, Loke clarified in a post on his official Facebook page that the decision to present the gift near the back entrance was made for security reasons, and that the dragon symbolises strength, wisdom, and friendship in Chinese culture.