KUALA LUMPUR - A minister’s call for Malays to boycott Chinese traders is unlikely to find traction with Malaysians and is more likely to alienate the ethnic community’s support and tarnish Malaysia’s reputation, said the vice-president of a national trade organisation.
According to Associated Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Malaysia vice president Datuk Tan Seng Leong, the public is informed enough to understand that price of goods rise because of economic pressure rather than racial concerns.
“In general, I don’t think this will have significant impact on the businesses of the Chinese community as most Malaysians are matured and are aware of what is actually happening in the country and the real cause of inflation,” Tan said in an email to Malay Mail Online.
Rather than pressuring traders—Chinese or otherwise—into dropping their prices, Tan said Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob’s call for a boycott along racial lines will only serve to offend the sensitivities of the group.
He also expressed shock that the “racist” remark was made by a minister, and said it could tarnish Malaysia’s image to tourists and foreign investors.
“Such a statement made by a minister may hurt the Chinese community emotionally as we have been treating ourselves as Malaysians who are no different from everyone in Malaysia,” he said.
“It was to my surprise to hear this racial boycott call, especially coming from a minister. It was a very racist remark leaving an undesirable impression to the rest of the world,” Tan said.
In the now-deleted statement on Facebook, Ismail had said that Malays could use the majority power of their race to press minority Chinese traders into lowering their prices by withdrawing patronage.
Ismail Sabri’s call has triggered a firestorm of criticism from both friend and foe alike, who have accused him of racism and sedition for his racially-specific suggestion that Malays boycott Chinese traders. - Malay Mail
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