Now, Ismail Sabri’s supporters want fewer Cabinet posts for MCA

Datuk Zulkifli Alwi (seated, right) defending Agriculture Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob during a show of support for the latter held at the Putra World Trade Centre in Kuala Lumpur today. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Seth Akmal, February 3, 2015.The furore over Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob's call for Malays to boycott Chinese businesses has taken a new twist with the Umno minister's supporters demanding that MCA be punished with fewer Cabinet posts for criticising him.

Former Umno Youth secretary-general Datuk Zulkifli Alwi today led a group of about 100 party members and friends of the agriculture and agro-based industries minister in telling the Barisan Nasional (BN) leadership that MCA should be given fewer cabinet positions because the component party had "not contributed much" to the ruling coalition in general elections.

The group took particular offence to the criticism by MCA Youth chief Chong Sin Woon who yesterday said Ismail Sabri had been racist and unfit to serve as a government minister.

"The appointment of a minister is the absolute right of the prime minister. Who and what right does the MCA Youth chief have to question it," said Zulkifli today.

"Again we see the rudeness of the MCA Youth chief with his questioning of Ismail Sabri's position in the Cabinet," he added.

"The party has not been contributing much to building BN's strength.

"So, we want BN leaders to review the allocation of seats in the Cabinet to component parties based on their loyalty and their contributions towards BN winning past general elections," he said.

The crowd that had gathered at a cafe outside the Putra World Trade Centre, which houses the Umno headquarters, held posters with Ismail Sabri's face and the words "We are all Ismail Sabri" (see pic below) while shouting in Malay "Kita satu hati" (We are united).

Zulkifli said they had gathered to express their anger against those who had criticised Ismail Sabri for his remarks, including MCA leaders.

"The statements made by them were stupid, rude and incorrect," said Zulkifli.

He said the minister was right to defend the Malays, being the majority of the population, from profiteers. Ismail Sabri had said a boycott of Chinese businesses by Malays could force the price of goods down in line with the drop in oil prices.

"That's the gist of Ismail Sabri's statement," said Zulkifli, adding that the minister was "always fighting for the rakyat's rights".

"We, Umno members, especially those among the grassroots, have been hurt by MCA's action for a very long time. Sometimes their actions are more chauvinistic than the opposition's," said Zulkifli.

MCA has two ministers in the Cabinet – the party president Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai, who is Transport Minister, and deputy president Datuk Dr Wee Ka Siong, who is a Minister in the Prime Minister's Department.

The party has three deputy ministers – Datuk Lee Chee Leong (International Trade and Industry), Datuk Chua Tee Yong (Finance) and Datin Paduka Chew Mei Fun (Women, Family and Community Development).

Chong in his reaction to Ismail Sabri yesterday had called him "unworthy" of being a Cabinet minister and described his comments as "racially-bigoted" and "unconstitutional".

Wee had also ticked off his Cabinet colleague for making blanket statements against Chinese businesses.

"You cannot use such a lame excuse with non-scientific justification. In actual fact, Malays, Chinese and Indians can be traders and you cannot just accuse the Chinese of increasing prices of goods indiscriminately," Wee had said.

Ismail Sabri today said he would not respond directly to MCA's criticism and preferred to discuss it privately as both parties are colleagues under the BN.

"I have no issues with MCA. It is a BN component party and if there is a problem, we should sit down and discuss it. There is no need to be on the other side of the fence with the DAP," he said, referring to the opposition party.

In his Facebook post, Ismail Sabri had said Malay consumers had a role in helping the government 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 posted on the social networking site.

Ismail Sabri, who was the former domestic trade and consumerism minister, later confirmed to The Malaysian Insider that he had posted the statement on his Facebook account..

Datuk Zulkifli Alwi (seated, fourth from left) with other supporters of Agriculture Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob at the Putra World Trade Centre today holding 'We are all Ismail Sabri' banners. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Kamal Ariffin, February 3, 2015.

- TMI