Translation error unintentional, says Najib

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KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak has expressed regret over a translation error that occurred during the just-concluded visit by Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao to Malaysia.

Saying that he had apologised to the Chinese leader, Najib noted that it was an unintentional and genuine mistake.

“We regret it very much, and I’ve apologised to the Chinese premier,” he told reporters after chairing the Umno Supreme Council meeting here tonight.

It was reported that the translation error involved the Chinese text on a banner at the welcoming ceremony for Wen held in the federal administrative capital, Putrajaya.

“The whole idea was to show our enthusiasm for the visit of the Chinese premier but, unfortunately, enthusiasm was one thing but the competency to translate was another. So it was unintentional,” said Najib.

Najib said the government would investigate the error.

“We’ll find out who’s responsible (for the mistake), but it’s not such a big issue because the Chinese premier understands,” he added.

Wen’s two-day visit to Malaysia ended Thursday. – Bernama