Report lodged against Zainal Kling for allegedly inciting racial discord

Malaysiakini

A police report has been lodged against the Malay Dignity Congress chief executive secretary Zainal Kling for allegedly uttering remarks to incite racial tension.

When contacted, Yoganathan Loganathan, who is a member of the Penang Society for Tamil Advancement, confirmed that he lodged the report at the Seberang Perai Tengah police headquarters today.

Yoganathan said he was alerted to the report regarding Zainal's (above) contentious remarks in Malaysiakini and The Malaysian Insight at about 9pm last night.

"Zainal's remarks can incite a fight between the different races in our communities, who are peaceful and harmonious," Yoganathan said.

"Among other things, Zainal spoke about the citizenship of non-Malays, saying they were ungrateful and often blamed the Malays for their woes," Yoganathan said in his police report.

Zainal kicked off the congress held in Kuala Lumpur yesterday with several "hardline" remarks which touched on issues related to the Federal Constitution, royalties and special position of Malays.

He also spoke at length about how non-Malays have taken advantage of the citizenship status given to them, adding that Malaysia belonged to the Malays.

The congress was attended by about 5,000 people, including Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad and several Umno, PAS and Pakatan Harapan leaders.

It was organised by Universiti Malaya’s Malay excellence studies centre, in collaboration with UiTM, Universiti Putra Malaysia and Sultan Idris Education University.

Many critics have described the event as political interference in academia.

Yoganathan said Zainal remarked - without proof - that the Malays, royalties and Islam have been insulted by certain quarters.

He added that if Zainal felt this to be true, the latter should lodge a police report.

"Instead, Zainal's words can create enmity between Malays and non-Malays.

"His remarks are punishable under the 1948 Sedition Act and Section 505 of the Penal Code, which deals with inciting words," he added.

Yoganathan urged the police to probe Zainal's statement thoroughly and act against him as soon as possible for disturbing racial harmony in the country.

Calls for UM vice-chancellor to resign over alleged racist remarks

Malaysiakini

Universiti Malaya Student Union vice-president Yap Wen Qing has hit out at UM vice-chancellor Abdul Rahim Hashim for making an allegedly racist statement at yesterday's Malay Dignity Congress

In a statement today, he called on Rahim (above) to apologise to all Malaysians and resign because he had not solved problems at the UM campus.

Yap alleged that at the congress, Rahim said the transition of power on May 9, 2018 (from BN to Pakatan Harapan) had eliminated Malay political dominance while the privileges of the Malays were also being questioned.

Rahim had also allegedly said the congress was held to warn others not to challenge the social contracts, claimed Yap.

"We criticise the vice-chancellor for making racist remarks, while at the same time as one of the top university leaders in Malaysia, he is unable to solve the financial crisis and the welfare of students.

"Although UM is a university of multiracial and religious students, our vice-chancellor has not been able to unite students and the rest of Malaysia with values that are of a simple and universal nature, and protect the university from threats by the political agenda of the administrators," he added.

Yap claimed that every residential college was forced to send Malay students to attend the congress.

"This is an act that threatens the autonomy of a student.

"This is because every student on campus has the right to explore a wide range of philosophies and ideas, they should not be dictated to follow specific narratives by the university.

"We are deeply saddened by the failure of Universiti Malaya to uphold the values of Malaysia," said Yap.

"We demand that all political leaders who made racist remarks during the Malay Dignity Congress to apologise to all Malaysians, and we also urge the UM vice-chancellor to resign over his racial slurs and his failure to manage the campus," he added.

Higher Education Ministry to work with UTM to resolve slides issue

KUALA LUMPUR: The Higher Education Ministry is to work with Universiti Teknologi Malaysia to resolve the issue over lecture material which is said to be derogatory to the Hindu and Sikh communities.

Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh (pic) said UTM vice-chancellor Prof Datuk Dr Wahid Omar would take all the required steps and action as necessary.

“The UTM vice-chancellor has gotten in touch with me and is looking into the issue. He has given his assurance to get to the bottom of it and take all required corrective steps,” he told Bernama when contacted on Wednesday.

UTM’s Tamadun Islam dan Tamadun Asia (Titas) subject slides caused an uproar among the Hindu and Sikh communities after they went viral on social media recently.

The slides claimed that Islam had introduced civility to the lives of Hindus and that they considered the dirt on the body as part of their religious practice to attain nirvana.

The Titas module was made mandatory for all tertiary students regardless of religion in 2013.

On Tuesday, Dr Wahid issued an apology over the slide material and said the slides were not approved by the ministry.

He gave the assurance that UTM would only use Titas slides endorsed by the Higher Education Ministry and experts on Asian Civilisation would be engaged to provide input when needed to prevent a recurrence of the incident.

Several Indian leaders, among them MIC president Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam and Deputy Education Minister Datuk P. Kamalanathan, as well as NGOs also reacted to the matter. – Bernama

Hindus are not agressive enough

By Mohd Firdaus

Today i want to be like Zakir Naik.

But i am not going to make comparision but rather i am going to whack Hindus directly. So if you are not happy, go and report me. I dont care. I speak what i want and i dont fear anyone except GOD.

Hindus are not agressive enough .

They believe in their scriptures and they pray accordingly. They dont preach to others neither do they claim theirs is the only true religion. They dont talk about salvation. They welcome anyone who want to join them and they dont stop anyone who wants to leave. They respect everyone's GOD and religion and some even have multiple GOD statues of other religions in their home.

They pass a temple, they put their hand on the chest as respect. They pass a church also same. They pass a mosque also same. To them, there is only one GOD but in different form. Yes ah?

They dont even tell you what to do and what not to do. Always its between you and GOD. The best part is they say Hinduism is not a religion but its a way of life. They dont even condemn and insult other religion unless someone insult theirs.

But maybe, they dont have to be aggressive right.

Up to Attorney-General to act on ‘racist’ remarks by Umno ministers, says Home Ministry

Police have completed investigations on incendiary statements by Umno leaders Datuk Dr Mashitah Ibrahim and Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob and are waiting for further instructions from the public prosecutor, the Home Ministry said today.

A total of 32 police reports were lodged against Ismail, the agriculture-and agro-based industries minister, over his call for Malays to boycott Chinese businesses as a way to force down the prices of goods.

Ten police reports were lodged against Mashitah, who had said that Chinese people had burned the Quran in a religious rite in Kuala Kedah, despite facts to the contrary.

A written parliamentary reply by the Home Ministry to DAP's Kulai MP Teo Nie Ching today said that police had completed investigations into both cases, and had handed the investigation papers to the Attorney-General's Chambers for further action.

Teo had asked the home minister to state the number of police reports lodged against both Umno leaders and for an update on the status of investigations.

The Home Ministry said that in Mashitah's case, investigations were made under Section 505 (b) of the Penal Code, which covers statements "conducing to public mischief".

Mashitah, the Baling Umno Wanita chief, at the Umno general assembly in November last year riled up party delegates with her speech in, which she accused Chinese of burning the Quran.

However, Kedah police and state Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir had already by then clarified that the culprit was a mentally unsound man who was later warded in hospital.

Ismail, meanwhile, created an uproar after singling out the Chinese, and also the DAP, for the high price of goods. He called for a boycott of Chinese traders on his Facebook page but subsequently deleted the post.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak later cleared Ismail of any ill-intent, saying that his remark was aimed at profiteering traders instead, but it did not stop Chinese-based parties in the ruling Barisan Nasional from demanding a public apology, while many others called for Ismail to resign. – March 10, 2015.
- See more at: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/up-to-attorney-general-to-act-on-racist-remarks-by-umno-ministers-says-home#sthash.f3nEJQwJ.dpuf

'Extend modest attire rule on non-Muslims'

Ridhuan Tee Abdullah has welcomed the Terengganu state government's move to tighten Islamic regulations concerning riding pillion on motorcycles, skipping Friday prayers and dressing provocatively in public.

Slamming critics who labelled it as Talibanism, the academic argued that such enforcement is done to "humanise humans".

"Only the despicable would allow something sinful," he penned in his latest column in Sinar Harian.

Ridhuan, who has often courted controversy over his views, wanted the rules to encompass non-Muslims as well in the name of fairness.

"I wish to suggest that these cover non-Muslims as well. Only then would it be fair.

"There is no excuse to dress sexily or act in an improper manner. No religion permits this," he said.

As for those who are not from Terengganu, Ridhuan said they must follow the rules when they visit the state.

"If you don’t want to follow, don’t come. Others would come.

"In Brunei, such rules have been in place for a long time and tourists still flock there because they want to know about the Islamic way of life," he added.

'They will never be satisfied'

Ridhuan argued that when compared to Brunei, Malaysia has allowed more freedom for non-Muslims and yet there are reports which claim that the nation stifles the religions of others.

He lamented that the Malay-Muslim identity has become diluted because of respecting the rights of others, purportedly in the name of human rights.

"In short, no matter how much (leeway) is given, they would not be satisfied until this nation becomes secular, and there is no longer a Malay or Islamic identity," he added.

Ridhuan also took a swipe at those who criticised Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak for attending a Malay unity rally recently.

"Didn't the PM when attending the (Thaipusam) festival in Batu Caves and Chinese New Year (celebrations) also gave the same assurance to help and uphold the rights of non-Muslims?

"What about the RM14 million allocation by the Sarawak government for 11 private Chinese schools in the state? Why the silence?

"When one defends the right of the Malays, it is called racism. But when rights are given to them (non-Malays), it is a right and not racism," he added.

Liow ready to meet Ismail over boycott remark

Meeting will be held in the interest of unity among the various races, says transport minister.






FMT

KUALA LUMPUR: MCA president Liow Tiong Lai is ready to meet Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob who wants to clarify his statement on calling for a boycott of Chinese traders who refuse to reduce the price of goods.

The meeting would be held in the interest of unity among the various races in the country, said Liow, who is also transport minister.

He disclosed this after opening a national road safety campaign held in conjunction with the Chinese New Year at the South Integrated Terminal in Bandar Tasik Selatan here today.

Yesterday, Ismail said he would hold a meeting with Liow to clarify his statement.

Ismail Sabri said the meeting was expected to be held before the Chinese New Year to ensure the issue was resolved amicably.

– BERNAMA

An open letter to Ismail Sabri

 

With all due respect, I am not here to tell you how to do your job nor am I here to criticise you - I am a firm believer that everyone is entitled to their own opinions but one must be made aware of the consequences it may bring. There is an old Arab proverb which states “Arrogance diminishes wisdom”, and as a leader much like yourself, you must be made fully accountable for the things you said and the people whom you may hurt in the process.

But politics aside, I write this not as a political opponent - not today, but only as a mere Malaysian who has seen how demoralised and worn out most Malaysians have become because of the hatred, fear and lies that seem to perpetuate our country.

It fills me with great sadness that our beloved country is slowly but surely heading down a path our founding fathers fought hard against. When they created the federation, they had a vision where Malaysians could live together in harmony and prosper together.

And here we are in 2015, just five years shy from Wawasan 2020. Can we safely say that we can truly become a developed nation by then? Are we comfortable with stripping away our ethnicity in order to achieve the glorious concept of a Bangsa Malaysia? Are we at ease with each other’s religious differences and are we able to prevent any inkling of religious supremacy?

A majority of Malaysians, especially the Malay/bumiputeras, still live in economic disparity. We see the system perpetually abused the cronys, the elite and the opportunists. Our founding fathers created a system that ensured help was given to those who needed it the most it but somehow, somewhere along the way, the system became corrupted. Now those who really are in need of such assistance have been neglected, ignored and rendered insignificant.

Our economy is not where it was two decades ago. Malaysia was once known as the one of the Rising Tigers of Asia but due to severe mismanagement and abuse, we lost the chance to pursuit the same riches Singapore, Hong Kong and South Korea now boasts.

The unemployment rate of our country now stands at 2.07 percent, a figure that has remained unchanged since 2012 - or so we have been told but surely, for a country with vast resources and opportunities, shouldn’t these figures decrease?

With many economists predicting 2015 will be a fiscally challenging year for Malaysians, we are faced with the colossal feat of preparing for the worst and I dare use the word “worst” because we are confronted with a rather bleak future. The implementation of the goods and services tax (GST) will no doubt trigger inflation and this alone will lead to an adverse domino effect.

Trapped in a low-income cycle

You see, Malaysians are trapped in a low-income cycle; according to the Employees Provident Fund (EPF), approximately 62 percent of monthly contributors earn less than RM2,000 and 96 percent below RM6,000. We are very far from achieving the high income nation our prime minister envisions.

Most of us can’t afford to buy houses and are neck deep in car loans and student loans. We are made to spend more, pay more while our salaries are inexplicably low.

The structure that exists in this country only seemingly benefits those who are already well off and those who are in the good books of the elite few. Our national debt now stands beyond 55 percent and the household debt has increased to more than 87 percent which happens to be one of the highest in the world.

We still want to know the relevance of 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) and what has happened to the RM42 billion that rightfully belongs to all of us and not just to the elite.

Arrogance is a trait no leader should embody. As a matter of fact, arrogance is detested in Islam.  In the Qur'an, verse 17:37 states: “And walk not on the earth with conceit and arrogance. Verily, you can neither rend nor penetrate the earth, nor can you attain a stature like the mountains in height.”

Leadership stresses upon the importance of guidance and humility - not someone who constantly berates and abases the people he or she is meant to serve; compassion is about selflessness and empathy - authentic values all leaders must have. A leader is often thought to be someone mentally and emotionally strong, kind, and thoughtful and has a sense of articulate elegance when they communicate.

The true face of racism and bigotry does not bear the image of DAP, PKR, PAS or anyone who dare speak up against tyranny but rather, is only the manifestation of hard right wing insecurities - founded on the unbearable fear of losing every ounce of power and influence, and your remarks, my esteemed minister, simply reflects the indoctrinated prejudices that your group believes in.

Our problems are not the Chinese businesses or the Chinese middlemen but only the system that has failed this nation. Leaders must never demonise fellow citizens by pitting us against one another nor should they ever attempt to stoke the fire of discontent and exploit the hopelessness some marginalised communities might have. Most of us felt your comments, which targeted some Malaysians of Chinese ethnicity were uncalled for and rude.

A minister should always refrain from saying hurtful things and must always be made to remember that with great power comes a great responsibility and your responsibility is to lead by example, so please stop the name calling, stop the slander and start figuring a way out of this quagmire.

---

SYERLEENA ABDUL RASHID currently serves as Bukit Bendera Dapsy secretary, Bukit Bendera DAP Wanita political education director and is an MPPP councillor.

Police records statement from Ismail Sabri over Facebook post – Bernama

Police yesterday recorded a statement from Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Minister, Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob on his controversial boycott call of traders who hiked up prices which went viral on social media recently.

Inspector-General of Police, Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar said Ismail came to Bukit Aman about 3.15 pm today to give his statement.

"After this, we will call on all parties to record their statements in relation to the case, namely MCA, Gerakan and DAP, which had issued statements in rebuttal to the minister's statement to assist investigations," he told Bernama.

Ismail recently urged consumers to boycott traders who refused to reduce prices of goods and that move would bring benefits to all communities in the country.

But his posting was labeled as racist as it had targeted Chinese traders. – Bernama, February 10, 2015.

Cabinet must sack Ismail Sabri, says Kit Siang

DAP elder: Minister betrayed his oath to serve all the people

FMT

KUALA LUMPUR: Agriculture minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob should be dismissed from the Cabinet if he does not withdraw his recent remark about a consumer boycott of Chinese-owned businesses, DAP elder Lim Kit Siang said today.

He said Ismail Sabri had betrayed his ministerial oath of office to serve all Malaysians regardless of race, religion or region.

Kit Siang questioned prime minister Najib Razak for seeming to sanction Ismail Sabri’s statement and said it showed up Najib as the weakest of Malaysia’s six prime ministers. No other prime minister before him would have stood by such a statement, he said.

He noted that even Mahathir Mohamad had disapproved by pointing out that prices had nothing to do with ethnicity.

Lim said the rest of the 34 ministers in the Cabinet had also betrayed their oaths of office by “defending the indefensible”.

He said Ismail Sabri should be sacked, either by the prime minister or by the rest of the ministers adopting a Cabinet resolution.

Nur Jazlan disappointed with PM's reaction to Ismail

IGP Khalid should just call off his twitter directive on Monday to police officers to investigate Ismail Sabri for his racist call to Malay consumers to boycott Chinese businesses now that the Cabinet has massaged it into an inoffensive call to all traders and not directed at any race

By Lim Kit Siang

It would appear that the Inspector-General of Police, Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar has also become victim of the Ismail Sabri virus as to make him say and do weird, outlandish or unacceptable things but putting up a pretence that what he is doing is the most normal, routine or ordinary thing.

Ismail made a rabidly racist call on Malay consumers to boycott Chines business and is trotting round the country basking as a hero as he felt vindicated not only by UMNO leaders lining up behind him with the placard “We Are All Ismail Sabri”, but by the Cabinet as well.

On Wednesday, the entire Cabinet succumbed to the Ismail Sabri virus when the Cabinet decided, as announced in a subsequent Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) statement, that Ismail’s call did not target Chinese traders alone but was aimed at all traders.

The PMO made a gem of a statement, which should framed for all posterity, stating:

“We were informed that his statement was aimed to reprimand traders who refuse to reduce the price of goods even when the price of fuel has reduced.

“The reprimand was aimed at all traders and not at traders of any particular race. He also suggested that consumers use their buying power to force traders to reduce the price of goods.”

The police has not been spared the Ismail Sabri virus attack, as the Inspector-General of Police, Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar reiterated today that the police will not call off its investigations involving Ismail Sabri but will continue with its probe.

On Monday, after Ismail went overboard with his racist fulminations on Facebook calling on Malay consumers to boycott Chinese business, I had asked the Inspector-General of Police whether his twitter account had broken down or whether Bukit Aman had suffered a breakdown of Internet access, as he had been strangely quiet for several hours on his twitter account on Ismail’s transgression.

One of Khalid’s trademarks as IGP is to immediately take to the twitter to direct his police officers to investigate political or civic society leader for any infringement of the law in their statements or speeches, and I myself was such a victim, when the IGP twittered that the police would investigate me under the Sedition Act for saying on the fifth anniversary of the death of Teoh Beng Hock that his killers have yet to be brought to book as Beng Hock did not commit suicide by jumping off the 14th floor of MACC in Shah Alam on July 16, 2009.

It was a few hours after my tweet that Khalid took to the twitter to say Ismail would be investigated.

However, with the Cabinet exonerating Ismail from any transgression, it is the height of ridicule for the police to continue with the rigmarole claiming that the police will still investigate Ismail’s “innocuous” (according to the Prime Minister and Cabinet) call on Malay consumers to boycott Chinese businesses.

Khalid should just call off his tweet directive on Monday to police officers to investigate Ismail as nobody believes that the police will dare to find the Prime Minister and Cabinet wrong and in violation of the law in massaging Ismail Sabri’s racist call to Malay consumers to boycott Chinese businesses into an inoffensive call to all traders and not at those of a certain race.

Why waste police time and resources on an investigation into the Minister for Agriculture and Agro-based Industry when it is obvious even to a child that such police investigation will not be going anywhere?

Adamant Ismail says boycott call taken ‘out of context’

An adamant Agriculture and Agro-based Industries Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob has again defended his controversial call for a boycott of the Chinese over high prices, this time claiming that his statement was taken out of context.

He repeated to the audience of a forum last night not to prolong the issue as a racial one, but to focus on the intent of his message instead, which he said is to call on consumers to unite against traders who refuse to lower their prices despite falling oil prices.

“The cabinet has already agreed that we don’t need to drag on with this issue, because we should know that if we prolong racial issues, we should ask ourselves what is the ending that we are looking for. We need to ask.

“So it is better we return to the intent (of the message) in the interest of all consumers; use collective power to do something to these traders so that they would reduce prices and its benefits can be felt by all races,” he said.

Ismail (left) said this a forum organised by the Captain Hussein Leadership Academy - a leadership academy founded by Umno Youth - in Kelana Jaya yesterday.

At the forum themed ‘Middlemen profits: Valid or Sabotage’, a member of the audience asked Ismail to explain his controversial statement while another voiced discontent with “racial elements” in the minister’s Facebook statement and urged Ismail not to repeat it, prompting him to respond.

“My statement that day was simple, but (taken) out of context. My statement is simple, the message is clear: Consumers have the power to reduce prices. That is all,” he said.

Not all Chinese, just stubborn ones

Ismail has been in the spotlight since Monday after a screenshot of his comments on Facebook was circulated online, in which he called on Malays to boycott Chinese businesses to compel them to lower prices.

"The majority of consumers are Malays. The Chinese are the minority. If the Malays boycott their businesses, they will have no choice but to reduce prices," he wrote.

In the posting, Ismail also questioned the Old Town White Coffee restaurant chain’s halal credentials and claimed it is owned by the “Ngeh family (of) Perak DAP, which are anti-Islam”, likely referring to DAP's Sitiawan assemblyperson Ngeh Khoo Ham.

Old Town White Coffee has since denied having ties to any politicians or political parties, and vouched for its halal certification, while Ngeh said his lawyers are initiating legal action against Ismail Sabri.

As for Ismail Sabri, he had clarified shortly after the controversy erupted that he was referring to “stubborn Chinese traders” who refuse to lower their prices, and he wasn’t referring to DAP leader Ngeh Khoo Ham.

"Regarding my boycott call to Malays against Chinese traders, I was responding Facebook users who are angry at stubborn Chinese traders who don't want to cut prices," he said in another Facebook posting that Monday.

‘Don’t rely on gov’t’

Meanwhile at the forum last night, Ismail said there are also political considerations as well when he made his original statement, which is that the opposition seems to gain whether fuel prices go up or down.

When fuel prices go up, he said, prices of goods also increase and BN is blamed for the problem to the extent the coalition’s acronym is nicknamed “Barang Naik” (Prices of goods increase).

“When fuel prices go down and prices of goods also come down, the BN government should benefit because we are the one who lowered the prices. But the government didn’t benefit but was condemned instead for failing to reduce prices.

“So that is why I said it is best way for us to use our power (as consumers),” he said, adding that there is now greater public awareness among consumers of their collective bargaining power.

When met with reporters outside the forum later, Ismail was asked whether he condones the actions of a Facebook page to list companies and products supposedly owned by Chinese to boycott, offering a list of supposedly Malay-owned companies as alternatives.

The minister replied he was only telling consumers not to rely on the government and instead use their own power to change prices, and what consumers do with that power are merely details.

When asked whether he would support race-based boycotts however, he said, “No. I already said that for the benefit of all, any errant traders whether Malay, Chinese, or Indian cannot be spared. The focus is on errant traders.”

Asked if the 'Boycott Chinese companies' Facebook page is a positive move, Ismail Sabri curtly replied, “I don’t know.”

The Facebook page is knows as “Boikot Barangan Cina DAP ORI”, and has garnered over 54,000 “Likes” so far.

Apart from calling for the boycotts and urging for support for supposedly Malay-owned business, the page also levels various accusations against DAP leaders and voices support for Ismail’s controversial statement.

Asked to respond to Ngeh’s decision to sue him, Ismail said the Perak DAP leader has the right to do so and he shall see him in court.

‘I helped lower prices’

Earlier at the forum, the minister spoke at length about his efforts since 2013 to lower the prices of agricultural produce by cutting out the middlemen.

He said when he came into office as the agriculture minister, he felt that something was amiss when he learnt that his ministry has a large budget of about RM6 billion, and yet farmers, fishermen and breeders were poor.

He said the ministry’s efforts include founding farmers' or fishermens' associations to connect them directly to buyers instead of relying to middlemen to take their products to the market, and also holding farmers' and fishermens' markets.

He said these associations have succeeded in increasing the income of its members by 10 to 15 percent compared to non-members, although he said his efforts are only partially successful.

Among the challenges include convincing local councils to provide prime land for the markets and breaking the farmers' and fishermens' reliance of middlemen, the latter of which is partially due to culture, and partially due to cycles of debt with the middlemen.

Ismail also accused distributors of being responsible for the high vegetable prices during the floods in December, saying that claims of short supply during the year-end disaster were untrue.

This is because vegetable production areas such as Ulu Yam, Cameron Highlands and much of the West Coast were not hit by flood, he said, whereas the flood-hit East Coast only produces enough vegetables for local consumption and could not even buy vegetables from the West Coast because the markets were closed.

At the time, he said, vegetable prices shot up by 100 to 150 percent.

“I issued a statement that it is not true (that there is a shortage), and I proved it by creating a special farmers' market where prices were 20 to 60 percent lower than the normal markets.

“If the special farmers' market can sell at far lower prices up to 60 percent compared to normal markets, that means there is something is not right with the normal markets,” he said.

Because there is an alternative, he said the prices of vegetables began to come down in less than a month since the farmers' market opened.

Najib patut pecat menteri 'bangang', kata Khalid Samad

Even activists are pressing for Ismail Sabri’s resignation

Some 49 activist groups today demanded the resignation of Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob who had gone on a racist rant against Chinese businesses, saying it was an irresponsible move on the part of the minister to play on racial sentiments.

They said the agriculture and agro-based industries minister targeted Chinese traders, who only play a minor role in the final price of goods and services, instead of explaining the ballooning of prices.

Among the 49 are All Women’s Action Society, Islamic Renaissance Front, Sisters in Islam and Suara Rakyat Malaysia.

"The minister was clearly irresponsible and playing to the racial and religious gallery on a subject of concern to all Malaysians," they said in a joint statement today.

"Condemning traders, or any other business group in the country, on the basis of racial origin and without providing any evidence whatsoever, is playing with fire and will only lead to racial misunderstanding and conflict."

They said their concern was heightened after Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak leapt to Ismail's defence and cleared the minister of wrongdoing.

"His position on it is disappointing and unacceptable. Like Ismail, we see the prime minister as pandering to his party’s political supporters; and for failing to ensure that our national interests and unity are protected, not undermined."

Ismail was criticised after he wrote in a Facebook post that Malay consumers had a role in helping Putrajaya fight profiteers by using their collective power to lower the price of goods.

"The majority of consumers are Malay, Chinese are a minority, if the Malays boycott their businesses, they will surely have no choice but to reduce their prices," he said.

After a Cabinet meeting yesterday, the Prime Minister's Department issued a statement defending Ismail, saying the minister had not targeted any specific race with his social media post.

The groups said they were worried of the possible effects of the episode especially when the goods and services tax was implemented in April, resulting in further price hikes.

"This is likely to lead to a new round of finger pointing and scapegoating. If not countered with calm and dispassionate public discussion and analysis, it will only widen the racial division in the country," they added. – February 5, 2015.

- See more at: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/even-activists-are-pressing-for-ismail-sabris-resignation#sthash.iLJcGBuI.dpuf

Gerakan veep sad cabinet soft on Ismail Sabri

Gerakan vice president Dominic Lau is disappointed that the cabinet failed to take action against Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Minister Ismail Sabri for calling the Malay consumers to boycott Chinese traders.

He was saddened that the cabinet did not make Ismail Sabri to retract his statement and offer a public apology.

He said that it was unacceptable that the Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak was trying to get rid of the issue, merely claiming in a press statement that Ismail Sabri’s statement was not targeting a single race.

"Gerakan agrees that the prime minister reiterates that the government will try its best to protect the interests of all races, but Ismail Sabri’s comment on Facebook had hurt the feeling of the Chinese, particularly those traders who had major contribution to the economy of this country.

"It is hard to quell public anger by merely issuing a press statement by the prime minister," said Lau in a statement today.

Lau pointed out that it was clear that Ismail Sabri (left) was asking Malays to "boycott Chinese traders" in his comment on Facebook.

Thus, he said, the minister should apologise to the community.

"For the time being, we believe that Ismail Sabri was not targetting the Chinese traders but they were mentioned in his Facebook comment. He should apologise to the Chinese community should he abide and accept prime minister’s advice," he said.

In a Facebook post on Monday, Ismail Sabri urged Malay consumers to boycott Chinese traders to bring down prices of goods and services.

Yesterday, the Prime Minister's Office said Ismail Sabri was not targetting Chinese traders alone.

PM Najib had stressed that the BN government will "continue to defend and safeguard the interests of all races", the PMO added.

"Therefore, any disputes which could lead to racial polarisation should not be prolonged as it will bring adverse effects to everyone," the statement read.

Gerakan, too, split on the issue
 
However, Gerakan public service and complaints bureau chief Lau Hoi Keong has a different opinion with Dominic.

Hoi Keong had earlier lodged a police report against Ismail Sabri’s remark.

When contacted, Hoi Keong said that he personally accepted Najib’s statement as the premier wants to put an end to this issue.

"I can accept the intention of the prime minister as he does not want to see this episode to turn sour," he said.

Hoi Keong (right) also said that he would not further pursue this matter even if Ismail Sabri refuses to budge from his position to not apologise.

"I believe that he will not apologise after all and we will not pursue further. Whether he apologises or not, so what? It does not change anything, you cannot retract what you have said," he added.

He hoped that BN will take this as a lesson for not repeatedly play up racial issue in the future.

The despondent tone was echoed by Gerakan Youth chief Tan Keng Liang who had scathingly called Ismail Sabri an “imbecile” when the issue first broke out over the weekend.

"Final score: Pakatan 1 - 0 BN," Tan tweeted after PMO issued the statement yesterday.

‘Liow and Wee must quit over Ismail Sabri’

DAP says it's not enough that the Cabinet 'understands' MCA's unhappiness with the 'boycott Chinese traders' remark.

FMT

PETALING JAYA: MCA President Liow Tiong Lai says he has conveyed to the Cabinet his party’s unhappiness over Ismail Sabri Yaakob’s “boycott Chinese traders” remark, but that’s not good enough for the DAP.

DAP’s publicity office today told Liow and his deputy, Wee Ka Siong, to quit their Cabinet positions for failing to demand the resignation of the Minister of Agriculture and Agro-based Industry.

Liow said in a media statement that he had “conveyed the MCA stance on this issue to the Cabinet, and it has been agreed that such comments polarise the community and should cease immediately.

“The stance of MCA as part of Barisan Nasional, a large multiracial coalition, is to uphold the values of our founding fathers and we reject any extreme remarks that could assault the unity of our country.

“The Cabinet understands MCA’s stand on this.”

Kulai MP Teo Nie Ching, in a press statement released this afternoon in her capacity as DAP’s assistant publicity chief, recalled that Liow had publicly vowed to seek justice for Chinese traders.

“According to him, the MCA presidential council unanimously passed a motion to condemn Ismail Sabri’s boycott call because it instigated racial hatred and damaged race relations,” she said.

“However, according to the Defence Minister, the Cabinet did not ask Ismail Sabri to retract his statement nor did MCA ministers ask Ismail Sabri to resign.”

She alleged that MCA was good only at “kowtowing to the big bully, Umno.”

To save their dignity, if they still have any, Liow Tiong Lai and Wee Ka Siong should resign from their Cabinet positions immediately or else stop claiming that they are representing the Chinese community in Malaysia because the Chinese community does not need this type of two-faced leaders.”

Liow is Transport Minister and Wee is one of the ministers in the Prime Ministers Department.

If there is nothing wrong with his Facebook post calling on Malay consumers to boycott Chinese businesses, why has Ismail Sabri deleted the post?

By Lim Kit Siang blog,


Malay Mail Online today reported that “due to his busy work schedule” the Minister for Agriculture and Agro-based Industry, Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob is not expected to give his police statement this week over his controversial Facebook post call on Malay consumers to boycott Chinese businesses.

Yes, Ismail is now very busy basking in the glory of a new “hero” status after political pressure was invoked in the Cabinet, resulting not only in 35 Ministers, but also the two MCA Minister who had been breathing fire and brimstone against Ismail’s racist remarks before yesterday’s Cabinet meeting, to meekly accept that Ismail’s call on Malay consumers to boycott Chinese businesses were actually a very smart call to all traders and not at those of a certain race to reduce prices!

Nobody knows how the two MCA Ministers could square the circle, but clearly they have acquired such superior art of political somersaults not understood by ordinary mortals, including ordinary politicians.

However, if the Inspector-General of Police, Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar’s tweet directing a police investigation into Ismail’s Facebook post making the racist call to Malays to boycott Chinese businesses is still to be taken seriously after the Cabinet clearance of Ismail’s Facebook post, shouldn’t the police be investigating the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak and the entire Cabinet to learn how they could transform Ismail’s racist call to Malay consumers to boycott to Chinese businesses into a call to all traders and not at those of a certain race to reduce prices?

Not only Malaysians, but the world would like to know how the Malaysian Cabinet achieve such a double miracle, firstly transforming a racist all to Malay consumers to boycott Chinese businesses into an all-embracing call covering all races in the country; and secondly, an even bigger miracle, to convert political leaders, like the two MCA Ministers, who were absolutely convinced of the racist nature of Ismail’s Facebook post before the Cabinet meeting, into accepting that Ismail’s posting was not racist at all!

Be that as it may, will the police also investigate Najib and all the other 34 Ministers in the Cabinet as to how they had transformed a racist call into a non-racist call?

Ismail said that he had done nothing wrong in his Facebook post and would not apologise, In fact, he is feted as a national hero – bigger than even the Home Minister Zahid Hamidi.

But if there is nothing wrong with his Facebook post calling on Malay consumers to boycott Chinese businesses, why has Ismail Sabri deleted the post from his Facebook?

Sack minister for being racist, stupid, Khalid Samad tells Najib

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak should sack Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri for being "racist" and "stupid" in asking the Malays to boycott Chinese businesses, says a PAS lawmaker.

Shah Alam MP Khalid Samad said such attitude is unbecoming and Najib should just remove the agriculture and agro-based industry minister from government.

“There is no way that the high prices of goods can be blamed on one race... It is stupid and oversimplifying matters. It is as if the prices went up because the Chinese wants it,” he he told a press conference at his office in Shah Alam today. – February 5, 2015

- See more at: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/sack-minister-for-being-racist-stupid-khalid-samad-tells-najib#sthash.Xdc6eI99.dpuf

Najib: Ismail bukan tuju pada peniaga Cina saja