Nazis, too, told Germans to boycott Jewish traders

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YOURSAY In Ismail Sabri’s world, the traders are all Chinese.

 

Malays urged to boycott Chinese businesses

Hearty Malaysian: It is shocking that Agriculture and Agri-based Industries Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob really wrote on Facebook asking Malays to boycott Chinese businesses claiming purportedly it is the Chinese that is persecuting the majority Malays through price hikes!

 

Is this not dissimilar to the Nazi government who asked the German to boycott the minority Jews then?

 

What type of government are we having if the prime minister again keeps quiet about this latest racist attack by his cabinet member?

 

Asitis: Ismail could have just said ‘boycott profiteering businesses’, but he chose to say boycott Chinese business. This was clearly said with ill-intent.

 

The Force: It’s fair to ask others to boycott businesses that charges unfairly. However, to single out a race of business people to boycott is unfair.

 

Malaysians need to learn that not everything should be seen through racial lenses. It is a business issue, of supply and demand. It is not a race issue.

 

WDA: The last time I checked, the prices of roti canai and teh tarik at my favorite mamak restaurant are still the same. The reality is nobody is bringing down prices despite the drop in fuel prices.

 

So, why does the good minister aim his guns only at the Chinese? Why is ‘blame everything on the Chinese’ so much in fashion these days?

 

It sure looks like this is Umno's dangerous strategy to win the next general election - make the Malays insecure and win their votes by making the Chinese look like bad, ungrateful people with cruel intentions (read that as threat to race, religion and royalty).

 

It is not surprising nowadays to hear remarks such as these from Muslim NGO Ikatan Muslimin Malaysia (Isma) and Malay rights NGO Perkasa but from a cabinet minister, really?

 

Actually, it is not that surprising since Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak started the ball rolling with his ‘Chinese tsunami’ statement after the 13th general election, and Umno has not let up since.

 

The sad part is that this unfair strategy may work unless Pakatan Rakyat works hard to counter these false perceptions.

 

Mushiro: Consumers have got the right to boycott certain businesses but for Ismail Sabri to target just the Chinese businesses are seditious, racist and wrong.

 

On the other hand, if the Chinese decide to boycott Malay businesses, it will be disaster for all. This can easily be experienced during the Chinese New Year holidays when most Chinese businesses are closed.

 

Nil: Prices are determined by the market forces of supply and demand. Chinese businessmen will set prices accordingly, because even the Chinese themselves will boycott the Chinese business with unrealistically high prices.

 

So, prices will come to a level where people can afford to buy... and if the Malays cannot afford to buy even at this level, don't blame the Chinese.

 

P Dev Anand Pillai: Can the Malays first and foremost survive economically without the Chinese traders? If the answer to that is in the affirmative, then by all means boycott.

 

Dalvik: What about tycoon Syed Mohktar al-Bukhary's monopoly of rice and sugar import, which resulted in high rice and sugar prices, compared to other countries in the region?

 

Ben Tan: Ismail Sabri is playing the racial card when it is only an economic and not a racial issue. Such an irresponsible minister should not be there in the first place. This shows his true racist colour. It’s very sad that this is happening in multiracial Malaysia.

 

Tommy: Ben Tan, I agree with your statement but you must understand, talk economics? First of all, does Ismail know the meaning of that word? If he does, then this kind of statement wouldn't have been made.

 

SSDhaliwal: Another red herring. Who are those that have a monopoly on Internet, cars and even rice? It is Umno-linked cronies who make billions by inflating prices through monopoly.

 

No doubt there are some Chinese traders who have not lowered prices even though fuel prices have dropped but this is due to the uncertainties of goods and services tax and the added cost of doing business dangling over their heads.

 

Bluemountains: Berani cakap tak berani tanggung! No amount of explanation is going to alter the meaning of words with racist undertones that the minister had uttered.

 

Traders are compelled to raise prices because input prices have gone up as a result of the weakening ringgit. As per the norm, the Chinese and the DAP are being made scapegoats for the government’s failed policies.

 

Tiger50: So the Malays boycott the Chinese, Chinese boycott the Indians, Indians boycott the Malays, Chinese boycott the Malays, etc, etc, etc. Is this what we are supposed to do, Mr Minister?

 

When will these end? Hatred. Disharmony. What kind of leadership is this from a minister? Shame on you.

 

Anonymous_1408265047: This would have to be the most moronic, stupid political statement that I have ever seen.

 

It has everything - bigotry, stupidity, racism, economic madness, self-denigration and plain good old fashioned hatred. Heinrich Himmler would be proud of this guy before he had him incinerated.


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