Ismail Sabri Yaakob has clarified that the so-called joint media statement with MCA president Liow Tiong Lai was a "mis-communication".

"We wanted to make a joint statement, but eventually we decided to issue separate statements. That's all, a mis -communication," he told reporters.

Yesterday, the agriculture and agro-based industries posted a clarification on Facebook claiming that it was a joint statement with Liow.

However, the MCA president promptly denied having any knowledge of such a statement.

The clarification concerned Ismail's earlier Facebook posting, which ignited a firestorm of protest due to his call on the Malays to boycott Chinese traders who refuse to reduce the prices of goods.

MCA youth publicity bureau deputy chief Tan Bok Koon today also slammed Ismail for using their president's name to issue the joint statement without first getting Liow's  consent.

By doing this, Ismail only further complicated the issue, Tan said, adding Ismail should have 'a sense of shame' and clarify both the 'boycott' remark and the joint statement issue.

'Aim at opposition, not Umno'

While Ismail's clarification expressed his 'regret' that his statement calling for an boycott had created tension between the races, the minister said he was not sorry for it.

According to The Star daily, Liow has 'taken note' of Ismail's statement and hoped the matter 'is put to rest'.

Alluding to MCA's persistent calls for Ismail ( left ) to be held accountable for his boycott call, Ismail said being a member of BN, MCA should have trained its guns onto the opposition rather than Umno.

"In the spirit of BN cooperation, what is important is that Umno and MCA must be united. Our common enemy is the opposition.

"When the general election comes, we work together so there is no reason we should prolong this issue. The longer we are at loggerheads over this, the weaker BN becomes," he said.

He hoped that Liow would also work towards brining the issue to a close.

"The cabinet wants us to move forward. The issue ahead is not ethnic issues, the issue ahead is to focus on the prices of goods," said Ismail.

The minister was speaking to reporters after attending a 'Do away with middlemen and reduce prices' campaign at Sungai Buloh in Selangor.