The twist of hate

Ismail Sabri Yaakob doesn't deserve brickbats for suggesting a pragmatic approach against profiteers.

COMMENT

By Sabrina Lee

Ismail Sabri Yaakob’s call for the lowering of prices has been so twisted by the rhetoric of hate that his original intention is all but forgotten. It has been turned into an issue to cause further division in our already polarised nation.

Close scrutiny of the minister’s tone and syntax would show that he took a gentle approach to voice his concern over a state of affairs that has touched many a sore nerve.

In true Malay tradition, he prefaced his remarks with an appeal for forgiveness for sharing his views, indicating that from the onset, he was well aware of the brouhaha that the airing of his views might cause.

He stated the obvious – that the consumer is king. His argument is simple, rational and logical. He astutely pointed out which ministry should act against profiteers and which statute it should use. He also pointed out that the Malays, being the biggest population group, could help fight profiteering by boycotting businesses that have not lowered the prices of goods and services despite the drop in fuel prices.

There was no racist slant in his call, but sometimes the truth hurts too much. In this case, many reacted vehemently because he cited halal concerns regarding a particular chain of restaurants.

You see, if we put aside our preoccupation with the Malay-versus-Chinese wrangle and look at the situation objectively, we’ll find that what the minister advocates is a pragmatic approach in the fight against profiteers. Consumers should collude to protect their own interests instead of waiting for the government to take action.

Malaysians are weird. They protest and demonstrate and bantah only when it suits them. Here is a minister asking people to stop complaining and start boycotting businesses that overcharge, and they say it is a racist attack.

The meaning of words is in the person interpreting them. If one thinks Ismail is being racist in his Facebook posting , it is because one wants to hear racist overtones or undertones.

Yes, he did say, “As long as the Malays don’t change, the Chinese will take the opportunity to oppress the Malays.” But a lot of people have chosen to ignore his explanation that he directed the statement at those Chinese businesses that were reluctant to lower their prices. Sadly, many continue going to town to spin his words.

Ismail has highlighted how greedy traders exploit the bandwagon effect, that out of sheer greed, they refuse to lower prices because others are not doing the same. Any price reduction would, in their eyes, work against their profit levels and allow others to earn more. That’s greed rolled up together with selfishness.

At least Ismail had the courage to speak up with good intentions for the wellbeing of the rakyat. He certainly does not deserve brickbats from MCA Youth chief Chong Sin Woon who, in a lame attempt to harvest political mileage, declared Ismail unfit to be a minister. If he is genuinely concerned about the interests of Malaysians, Chong should first ask his party boss to reduce transportation costs.

If there is anybody who should resign, it should be the Minister of Transport for not taking action to bring down transportation costs now that oil prices are coming down. Another minister who should resign is the one in charge of Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism, who is supposed to monitor domestic trade and advocate and protect consumers’ rights.

Instead, the Minister of Agriculture, who has his heart for the people, is now being attacked simply because those two ministers are not doing their jobs.

All that Ismail has said is for the benefit of consumers, and we are all consumers, aren’t we? So, remove your blinkers of prejudice.

Sabrina Lee is an FMT reader