Liow Tiong Lai made a lightning quick rebuttal when Umno minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob issued an explanation for his controversial remark on Chinese traders in what the latter claimed to be a joint statement with the MCA president.

Barely 30 minutes after the statement was issued on Facebook , Liow tweeted his denial.

"I have never issued any media statements with Ismail Sabri. How can a joint statement be issued without my knowledge?" he said.

Liow added in a subsequent tweet that he has not met Ismail Sabri today.

At about 2.45pm today, Ismail Sabri posted the purported joint statement claiming that he had discussed the matter with Liow in line with BN's consensus spirit.

"We agree that everyone should move forward and focus on efforts to reduce the cost of living.

"The purchasing power of the majority is capable of changing and influencing traders to keep prices down.

"With this, we urge all consumers, regardless of race, to exercise their right as consumers to compel traders to keep prices down, in view of falling fuel prices," he said.

As of 3.45pm, Ismail Sabri removed the post.

Previously, Liow had, on behalf of MCA, demanded for Ismail Sabri's apology and retraction over the latter's Facebook post where he urged the Malay community to boycott Chinese businesses to compel them to slash prices.

The same post also saw Ismail Sabri questioning the authenticity of halal certification of non-Muslim owned restaurants.

He also claimed that Chinese businesses were oppressing the Malay community.