Just because turtle eggs were served doesn’t mean I ate them, says Ismail Sabri

KUALA LUMPUR: Rural and Regional Development Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob (pic) has once again defended himself in relation to the turtle egg issue.

Likening the situation to Hindus at a feast where beef is served, Ismail Sabri urged people not to assume that he had consumed turtle eggs at a dinner with Beluran Umno chief Datuk James Ratib.

“There will be Hindus who also attend the kenduri (feast) and on the table, there will be beef dishes, either rendang or gulai kawah.

“Just because there is beef, one cannot assume that the Hindus attending the kenduri will eat the beef.

“Hindus in Malaysia will not eat beef as it is against their religious believes.

“So please do not assume that just because it is served on the table, one has eaten it, that cannot be accepted,” he said before starting his ministry’s winding up speech for Budget 2016 in Parliament on Thursday.

New photos surfaced recently purportedly showing consumed turtle eggs on Ismail Sabri and James’ plates at the event in Sandakan on Aug 29.

Earlier this month, photos of a plate of unconsumed turtle eggs on the table at the event went viral on social media.

Ismail Sabri, who is also Bera MP, had at the time denied consuming the eggs, adding that he only ate the fish served as he has to control his cholesterol level.