Umno's Datuk Seri Noh Omar wants people to take heed of Agriculture Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri's call to boycott Chinese businesses who do not reduce their prices despite the decline in petrol price. – The Malaysian Insider pic, February 3, 2015.There is nothing racist about Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob's call urging Malays to boycott Chinese businesses, Datuk Seri Noh Omar said today in defence of his Umno colleague.
Instead, the Umno Selangor information chief said the agriculture and agro-based industries minister's statement needed to be looked at from a larger context as consumers themselves stood to benefit from it.
"What he said is the reality, if we boycott rising prices, the people will benefit, it does not matter whether it is Malay, Chinese or Indian.
"His statement has to be looked at in full, I read it, nothing racist about it," he told The Malaysian Insider today.
He said that if consumers played a role in boycotting outlets that raised prices, they would directly benefit, adding that everything should not be left to the government to handle.
Ismail had posted on his Facebook account that Malay consumers had a role to play in helping the government fight profiteers by using their collective power to lower the price of goods.
Yesterday, Unity Minister Tan Sri Joseph Kurup too defended Ismail's remark, saying that the call to boycott was well-intended and aimed at galvanising consumers to avoid premises that hike up prices indiscriminately.
He also said that traders had raised the prices of their goods when global oil prices were increasing, adding that since global oil prices were now on a downtrend, it was within reason for the minister to ask traders to lower their prices too.
Noh today challenged Pakatan Rakyat to hold a demonstration calling for reduction in prices as the coalition had initially intended to hold one when petrol prices went up.
"I want to challenge them to have a demonstration because while petrol prices have come down, cost of goods are still going up.
"Previously Rafizi said that price of goods were up because petrol prices went up.
"But now petrol prices have come down, why are goods getting more expensive," he said in reference to PKR secretary-general Rafizi Ramli.
The Umno politician added that if PR truly subscribed to the concept that petrol prices were directly linked to cost of goods, they needed to hold a demonstration.
"Why are they keeping quiet," the Tanjung Karang MP questioned.
He added that it was clear that PR leaders were only keen on playing politics, instigating the people and sowing seeds of hatred among them.
"Today it is proven that PR made a false allegation, solely for the intention of cheap publicity," he added.
Speaking at the Subramaniam temple in Kuala Selangor today, Noh also reminded all races not to interfere in the affairs of other faiths.
He said that issues arising among the various religions needed to be resolved through discussions so that any misconception can be addressed.
"We should not speak on behalf of the faith of other people, let Muslims speak for Islam, and those of the Hindu faith speak about their religion.
"When we started to disrespect one another, stern action is needed for the sake of national unity," he added.
In his Facebook post, Ismail had written: "Forgive me for sharing my views, but besides the Ministry of Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism, which uses the Price Control Act and the Anti-Profiteering Act to act against traders who raise their prices indiscriminately, the greatest power lies with consumers.
"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."
- TMI
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