MCA refuses to bow in to Umno pressure to desist attacks on Agriculture and Agri-based Industries Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob and has vowed to bring the matter up in tomorrow’s cabinet meeting.

Its president and Transport Minister Liow Tiong Lai said this is because this Ismail Sabri’s call on Facebook for Malays to boycott Chinese traders is a smear against the Chinese community.

"Ultimately, Ismail’s very first posting has labelled Chinese businessmen as profiteers.

"It is a smear against Chinese. MCA will claim justice for Chinese community," he is quoted by Bernama as saying.

The MCA presidential council unanimously passed a motion to condemn Ismail Sabri’s boycott call because it instigated racial hatred and damaged race relations, he said.

This comes after Ismail Sabri (left) told reporters that he will not engage in open war with MCA despite his disappointment, out of respect of Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak who advised against public bickering.

Liow was backed by MCA Youth chief Chong Sin Woon who continued gnawing on the agriculture and agri-based industries minister for the Facebook faux pas.

Anti-Agong

Ismail Sabri’s explanation that he only meant "stubborn" Chinese traders who refuse to bring down prices despite tumbling fuel costs did little to appease Chong.

"His stubbornness to admit his wrongdoings shows his poor attitude, and if he does not repent, I doubt very much that he will know what he did wrong in the first place," Chong said in a statement today.

Chong (below) , who took a beating at a press conference by former Umno Youth leaders earlier today, said MCA’s stand against Ismail Sabri’s "racism" does not mean it does not support consumers.

"We should all stand united as consumers to pressure traders to reduce their price, regardless of the race of the traders…

"For Ismail Sabri to say that it is I who should thank him (for pressuring traders to bring prices down) also shows his obstinate and high-handed attitude.”

Also nipping at the Umno supreme council member’s heels is NGO NegaraKu who said that Ismail Sabri had gone against the Agong’s Federal Territories’ Day address calling Malaysians to cast aside racist attitudes.

"It is abundantly clear that minister Ismail Sabri has forgotten, or worst still, has chosen to blatantly ignore the wise words of His Majesty.

"Sabri’s pathetic utterance - 'As long as Malays don't change, the Chinese will take advantage and oppress the Malays' - is tantamount to inciting hostility and sowing enmity between the ethnic groups," it said in a statement.

The government must take bold measures to show that it would not stand for such racism.

Ismail Sabri must thus resign from his post or be sacked for the sake of national harmony, it said.

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