Agriculture and Agro-based Industries Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob is "sad" there are Umno and MCA members criticising his policy of not helping people from opposition wards.

In a post on his Facebook page today, Ismail Sabri said his words had been subject to "spin" and accused the DAP-led Penang government of sidelining people in BN-held constituencies.

"The one that reported my speech is The Malaysian Insider , which will just spin. Thus opposition figures such as (DAP secretary-general) Lim Guan Eng attacked me for discrimination.

"But what is sad is that BN component party MCA is like DAP in attacking me. What makes it even sadder is the fact that many Umno supporters attacked me on the social media.

"It is as though they agree that DAP does not discriminate (against BN-held constituencies)," wrote Ismail Sabri.

'Attack DAP, not me'

Ismail Sabri claimed that DAP treats Umno  assemblypersons and their constituencies like a "step child" and won't approve applications from these constituencies.

He claimed that the Penang government had refused to entertain applications from Penang Regional Development Authority (Perda) and JKP Sdn Bhd to build 10,000 affordable homes on the grounds that they were linked to the federal government.

Other affected federal government projects are the establishment of a farmer's market by Federal Agricultural Marketing Authority (Fama) and National Entrepreneur Group Economic Fund (Tekun) market project, where stall rentals were raised from RM300 to RM3,000.

"Thus, isn't DAP practising discrimination based on party lines? Don't be trapped by Lim and DAP, who act like angels.

"This trap had caused MCA and others to attack me as though only bad Umno leaders discriminate based on party lines.

"The truth is, DAP is discriminating based on party lines. To MCA and others, Lim and DAP should be attacked," said Ismail Sabri.