The Sembrong MP said just because the donation came from a foreign figure, it shouldn’t be a reason to politicise the issue.

“I never asked him to make any donation. It is out of his own goodwill, so who are we to say no? As long as there are no conditions attached to the donation.”

Hishammuddin was referring to the RM40,000 donation made to eight national-type Chinese primary schools (SRJK Cina) in his parliamentary constituency.

When asked why the donation was only made to him, Hishammuddin brushed aside the question, saying that maybe other constituencies had received similar donations from the Chinese ambassador.

“That question, you have to ask him. As the MP for Sembrong, I am very grateful that people are willing to contribute to our schools, whether it’s Chinese, Tamil, national or religious schools.

“Anything that can help our school system … who would say no to it? Provided that it doesn’t affect our national interests and there are no strings attached to the donation,” he said at a press conference at the Defence Ministry here.

Hishammuddin said the donation was very much welcome as it “helps our children”, especially in the current troubled economic climate.

According to a report in Malaysiakini, DAP assistant publicity secretary and Kulai MP Teo Nie Ching speaking on the envoy’s donation, claimed that it only showed how Huang knew of the predicament faced by Malaysia’s Chinese schools better than the minister.

Hishammuddin merely laughed at this and said: “Maybe the donation did not go to Kulai (constituency).”