Rural and Regional Development Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob, first I think you should get your bearings right. I think no one is condemning you for trying to help Malay and bumiputra retailers. After all, Malay entrepreneurship development is very much part and parcel of government policy. I think the issue of concern here is the way you go about it. Many feel that you are probably ‘milking’ the project to further your own political ambition and popularity.

By all means help the Malays to set up retail stores selling digital products. But why earmark a separate mall exclusively for Malay retailers? How then would you expect the non-Malays to patronise such a mall without feeling a sense of marginalisation and indignation? I think it is not good for non-Malay customers; it is also not good for Malay retailers.

Please don’t get me wrong; I think there are differences between a ‘government-decreed mall’ and a mall that is dominated by a single race through entrepreneurship and market forces. Non-Malays have no problem patronising Malay traders and retailers if transactions are based on value-for-money and willing-seller and willing-buyer basis.

However, when the government takes sides as in the case of Mara Digital, you can’t stop people from making all kinds of inferences. Is the government deliberately trying to segregate the people? Is the government trying to promote ‘race-based’ business, i.e. each community should try to buy and sell within its own community? So today it is digital products, tomorrow what would it be?

My complaint is not six-month free rental given to the traders at Mara Digital. In fact, the government, through various programmes, has given more enticing assistance than six-month free rental to help Malay businesses. The real issue is long-term sustainability and viability.

If the six-month free rental could make a difference and stabilise the businesses at Mara Digital, I will be happy for you. But if it is not, may I know what would happen after six months? Are the retailers going to fold or is the government going to give them even more than six months free rental?

I am sure other businessmen can attest to it. The success of any retailer is dependent on factors other than rental. Acumen, regular and reliable suppliers, inventories, customer flows and profit margins are as important.

Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob, I think it is better for you to wait for the outcome of Mara Digital before you replicate the concept nationwide. Don’t burn too much money just simply because it is not from your own pocket.