Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak has been urged to sack Rural and Regional Development Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob for proposing a Malay-only alternative to leading electronics and computers complex, Low Yat Plaza.

The call was made by Seputeh MP Teresa Kok who pointed out that if Muhyiddin Yassin can be dropped as deputy prime minister for going against Najib on 1MDB, then so can Ismail for going against the '1Malaysia' policy.

"If deputy Umno president Muhyiddin could be dropped from the cabinet on the ground that cabinet members should not air their differences in an open forum that can affect public opinion against the government and Malaysia, then what is to stop the prime minister from expelling Sabri who has openly and blatantly gone against his '1Malaysia' concept?

"Ismail has also betrayed his oath of ministerial office to serve all Malaysians regardless of race and religion.

 If Najib could argue that Muhyiddin has committed a sin that warranted expulsion, Ismail Sabri has in fact committed a bigger sin. Ismail Sabri should be axed from the cabinet," said Kok ( photo ) in a statement today.

Ismail had mooted the setting up of a 'Low Yat 2' comprising of Malay handphone and computer retailers at the Mara headquarters in Kuala Lumnpur.

This was after a riot outside Low Yat Plaza last month following a mobile phone theft but which was later spun on social media case of 'Chinese cheating Malays'.

Kok said the 'Low Yat 2' proposal was tantamount to a policy of racial segregation.

"Where will the country be heading if such a policy is adopted?  I would like to advise Ismail Sabri to stop being ridiculous and extreme," she said.

Ismail also faced criticism from his BN partner, the MCA, which reminded him that Malaysia was a multi-racial country.

Second controversy

"This proposal is regrettable. As a cabinet minister, he shoulders the responsibility to develop mutual understanding in our country, rather than undermine racial integration with such polarising remarks.

"Such a proposal reeks of racial differentiation and segregation," said MCA publicity bureau chairperson Chai Kim Sen in a statement today.

Chai ( photo ) also noted this was the second time Ismail has become embroiled in a racial controversy.

In February, Ismail, who was then agriculture and agro-based minister, blamed rising prices of goods on Chinese traders and called for  a boycott  of their businesses.

This is the second controversy involving a member of Najib's new cabinet since the reshuffle last month.

Last Sunday, newly-minted Education Minister Mahdzir blamed Christians and Jews for corruption allegations against the government raised by whistleblower site Sarawak Report.

He claimed the allegations were a bid by Christians and Jews to split the Malays, a remark that  earned flak  from the Council of Churches.