Agriculture and Agro-based Industries Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob received a hero's welcome at the cigarette smoke-laced Riverside Cafe at the Putra World Trade Centre, as supporters gave him a standing ovation for his recent call to boycott Chinese traders.

The roaring applause interrupted a press conference at the cafe by former Umno Youth leaders to show solidarity with the minister, who has been lambasted - including by coalition partner MCA - for his recent controversial Facebook status.

The minister looked happy to pose for pictures with supporters holding 'We Are All Ismail Sabri' placards, but told the media that he would answer their questions at a press conference with Umno division leaders tomorrow.

"I will not retract my statement and will not apologise," he nevertheless said.

The packed cafe - an Umno hangout, as PWTC is attached to the Umno headquarters - had earlier reverberated with chants of 'Kita Satu Hati', 'Hidup Melayu' and 'Hidup Umno' before former Umno Youth secretary Zukefli Alwi ( right ) started the press conference.

When Ismail Sabri was asked if he had organised the show of support, a man in an Umno linen shirt shot back: "No, we organised it."

Seeming flushed by the warm reception, Ismail Sabri - a former Umno Youth chief - said he had actually been invited to have drinks with old friends, and was greeted with what had the feel of a surprise party.

Among the former Umno Youth leaders were Umno Youth exco members Armand Azha Abu Hanifah and Fathul Bari Mat Jayha ( left ), although Umno Youth top brass were absent.

Asked of the youth wing's silence on the matter, the minister shrugged and said: "Maybe they will (speak up) later."

While Zulkefli took MCA to task for criticising Ismail Sabri, the man of the hour opted for the high road and said he will avoid open war.

'Not good for the PM'

The Umno supreme council member said this was in deference to his boss, Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak.

"(MCA president) Liow (Tiong Lai) and I are both cabinet ministers.

"If I was not a very nice person, I would have attacked him back, but our boss says it is not good for the cabinet and not good for the PM," Ismail Sabri ( right ) told reporters.

MCA Youth chief Chong Sin Woon yesterday claimed that Ismail Sabri is "unfit to be minister" after the latter had urged Malays to boycott Chinese traders, whereas Liow ( left ) said the statement had been "racist, narrow-minded, distasteful and uncalled for".

Ismail Sabri had suggested for the boycott, given that prices have not gone down despite tumbling fuel prices.

Yesterday, he clarified that he only meant "stubborn Chinese traders" in his controversial Facebook status and not all, and that he was just responding to another Facebook post which lamented about the high prices.

In his original posting, the minister also questioned why Malays flocked to Chinese restaurants despite their purportedly dubious halal certificates.

Although he was panned by Gerakan, MCA, DAP and PAS, he had been backed by MIC Wanita chief Mohana Muniandy and Minister in the Prime Minister's Department in charge of unity Joseph Kurup.

Kurup said it was clear that Ismail Sabri's intention was to bring down the prices of consumer goods, while Mohana pointed out that it is not racist because most traders are ethnic Chinese.