DAP the racist one over costlier goods, says Ismail Sabri

Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob now blames DAP over high prices of goods, after meeting sellers at a farmers' market in Taman Melawati today. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Seth Akmal, February 7 , 2015.Under-fire Umno minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob now blames the opposition party DAP for being "racist" over the high price of goods, even as he asked Malaysians to "move on" from the furore over his Facebook post in which he called for a boycott of Chinese businesses.

"When the prices of goods don't go down, DAP will use that to manipulate the rakyat," he said of the opposition's claims that the ruling Barisan Nasional was at fault for the rising cost of living.

"We know the true face of DAP… the biggest father of all racist people in Malaysia is the DAP," the agriculture and agro-based industries minister told reporters today while on a visit to the Taman Melawati farmers' market in Hulu Kelang in the capital.

Ismail, who has refused to apologised for his post and denied that it was targeted at Chinese traders, accused the opposition of benefiting in their political agenda because of higher priced goods.

"When the prices don't go down, the opposition, DAP, PAS and others, use this situation to blame the government.

"This means that the goods that do not drop in price are used to the advantage of the opposition and manipulated by them to blame the government," he said.

The minister courted controversy after posting on his Facebook page a call for Malays to boycott Chinese businesses to force down the price of goods.

Ismail wrote in his post that Malay consumers had a role in helping the government fight profiteers by using their collective power to lower the prices of goods.

On Wednesday, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak defended Ismail's Facebook comment, saying the Umno minister was not targeting any specific race.

The Prime Minister's Department in a statement said the Cabinet was told that Ismail's post was a reminder for all businesses to lower the price of their goods.

Ismail again distanced himself from the Facebook page "Boikot Barangan Cina DAP ORI” (BBCDO) and did not comment when asked if he thought the page was racist and could incite hatred.

Instead, he said people should "move on" and not dwell on the matter anymore.

"I think we should move forward. If we still talk about things that may cause anger among people, it would not bring benefit to the people of Malaysia," he said.

The Facebook page currently has more than 54,000 "likes" and some of its posts clearly target the DAP and the party's leaders.

The Bera MP has yet to give his statement over his remarks to the police and today said he would only do so after his working visit to Indonesia next week.

"I have already mentioned to the police that I am only free after my trip to Indonesia, maybe next week.

"The police needs to be free also, I also need to be free (to give my statement)," he said.

- TMI