MCA central committee member Lua Choon Han has urged Rural and Regional Development Minister Ismail Sabri Yaacob to resign from his position if he insists on making "illogical statements" from a racial perspective.

Lua said Ismail Sabri has repeatedly made such statements with regard to the vaping issue, the latest being his claim that the Health Ministry’s directive on sales of nicotine-laced vapes will only “kill the Malay-dominated industry”.

“We would like to remind Ismail Sabri that there has never been a 'ministry of Malay affairs' since our independence 58 years ago.

“If he does not want to continue as a cabinet minister for all races but longs for ministerial jobs for Malays only, we suggest that he resigns from his present post and waits for the prime minister to establish such a ministry so he can make a self-recommendation to be appointed as minister of Malay affairs," Lua said in a statement.

He had previously urged Ismail Sabri to not turn vaping into a racial issue as it was a national health concern.

In his response yesterday, Ismail Sabri, the MP for Bera, said he should not be labelled as a racist simply because he voiced the interests of the Malays and bumiputera.

Prove substance not harmful

However, Lua said that as rural and regional development minister, Ismail Sabri should be working hard to bring betterment for the rural folk, regardless of race.

"What was his actual intention when he said banning of vaping would kill off the Malays' bread and butter?" he asked, while adding that Ismail Sabri's statement reflected his narrow and monotonous mindset.

Lua pointed out that Health Ministry director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah, in supporting the proposed ban on vaping, had quoted findings of a research done by the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

He said the study shows that a mere 60 millilitres of nicotine is enough to take the life of a 150-pound adult.

“Is human life of lesser importance to 'people's bread and butter' in Ismail Sabri's eyes?

“If he truly wants to defend the rights of certain quarters, what say he consumes 60 millilitres of nicotine himself in public to prove that the substance is not harmful, so as to refute CDC's claim?” Lua asked.