MCA refuses to "sink" to Malay Army Veterans Association president Mohd Ali Baharom's level, and won't reply to his racially-charged accusations, MCA publicity bureau chairperson Chai Kim Sen said today.

"MCA, our party, leaders, grassroots members and staff are much wiser than falling into the trap intentionally set up for us.

"We definitely know better than to sink to his abysmal level of replying to his deliberate, conjured accusations," Chai said in a statement.

Mohd Ali, better known as Ali Tinju, had accused MCA of defending "cheating Chinese" and told them to "school" its people first.

This followed an incident at the Kota Raya shopping complex last week, involving an alleged handphone scam.

"I am warning MCA leaders. Shut your mouth, don't question other races. School your own race first. Your race are cheaters," Ali reportedly said.

Chai said these comments from Ali were clearly meant to provoke a racial response from the MCA.

The whole thing is a consumer issue, he argued, accusing Ali Tinju of twisting it into a racial matter to create tension between MCA and other BN component parties.

"Ali Tinju ( centre in photo ) wants to start heated exchanges between BN parties but more sinisterly, he eagerly expects MCA to rebut from a racial angle so that he can gladly skewer the awaited rebuttal into a racial issue," he said.

MCA leaders never mentioned the issue of ethnicity in any of the comments made on the Kota Raya issue , Chai pointed out.

They had only focused on the criminal offences by the assailants at Kota Raya, the injuries inflicted, damage to the premises as well as the attorney-general's decision to not charge Ali Tinju for his remarks at the Low Yat Plaza in July, he said.

"Urging the authorities to take action against these criminal offences which transcend beyond race are matters that MCA drives at.

"Ali Tinju clearly continues to punch against the rule of law, justice and reason, and wants societal havoc based on ethnic grounds to ensue.

"MCA and peace-loving Malaysians know better," Chai explained.

A scuffle broke out at the Kota Raya mall on Sunday, two days after an earlier protest led by Ali at the same place over the alleged handphone scam.

Two salespersons reportedly sustained minor injuries and have lodged a police report over the brawl.

Police say they have arrested one suspect and are on the hunt for 14 more alleged perpetrators.

Ali was been arrested last night in relation to his protest at Kota Raya.

The protest came following claims from a customer that he was locked up by a trader for four hours after he refused to buy several mobile telephones.

The customer claimed the trader insisted he pay RM10,000 for four mobile phones even though he was originally quoted a price of RM800 in total.

He said he was released after he paid RM5,000.

The consumers tribunal sided with the customer and ordered the trader to return the money to the customer.

The customer also returned the four mobile phones to the trader.