Agriculture and Agro-based Industries Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob remains evasive in not wanting to apologise for his controversial remark on Chinese traders.

However, he expressed "regret" that his statement had taken a racial slant and is being viewed as an ethnic issue.

On the same note, Ismail also stressed that he does not regret his statement.

“It is not regret with my statement, but regret that it created tension between races,” he said during a press conference in Sungai Buloh.

Asked if the "regret" amounted to an apology, he replied: "No, this is not about an apology or whatsoever".

"If I answer your question, people will blame me for not apologising and that I don't want to retract (the statement). I still want to provoke again, so no end...

"I feel that I don't want to answer anything. I also don't want to answer your question. Apology or not, I don't want to answer," Ismail added.

Ismail had courted flak over a Facebook posting in which he called on the Malays to shun Chinese traders who did not reduce the prices of goods.

‘Nobody listened to me’

When pressed whether the regret statement was due to pressure from the MCA, Ismail Sabri did not answer directly.

“We agreed and discussed (the issue) together. What is important is Barisan National. The issue of pressure doesn’t arise. We have different views, but forget about everything, the most important thing is the strength of BN,” he said.

Nobody wanted to listen despite his havingoffered his explanation back then, he said, blaming the media for sensationalising the issue.

Since everyone has shifted their focus to Anwar Ibrahim’s case and Chinese New Year, hence it is the “right time” to express his regret, he said when quizzed why the statement came late.

Later after the press conference, Ismail also claimed he hoped to put a stop to this issue to avert his “good friend” Liow from being pressured.

“We are both from Pahang, I am from Bera while he is from Bentong. If you come up with such news again, they will attack him, MCA and DAP will attack him. Pity him,” he said.

The Bera MP also hoped yesterday’s statement could be the last statement he would issue over this issue and that it be resolved once and for all.

“The cabinet wanted us to move forward. The issue ahead is not for us to discuss ethnic issues, the issue is to focus on the prices of goods.

“I hope this issue is resolved, I hope Liow also (feels the issue is) resolved,” he said.