MCA takes Ismail Sabri to task over Low Yat 2 proposal

PETALING JAYA: MCA has labelled Datuk Ismail Sabri Yaakob as a regressive Cabinet Minister for proposing the opening of a Low Yat 2 plaza solely for Malay traders.

Its publicity bureau chairman Datuk Chai Kim Sen (pic), in hitting out at the Rural and Regional Development Minister, said Ismail should recognise the multi-racial composition of Malaysian society.

“He should serve the needs of all ethnicities rather than being race-centric in his proposals,” said Chai in a statement Wednesday.

He added that Barisan Nasional had spent a lot of money and effort to build a united and harmonious nation.

“Such an asset can be easily destroyed when political leaders sputter narrow-minded comments.

“Earlier in the year, Ismail sparked national uproar when he said to ‘boycott Chinese goods as Chinese traders are profiteering from Malays’,” he said, adding that instead of learning how divisive the comment was, Ismail was again inciting communal disquiet.

Chai said Ismail Sabri had proposed for Level 3 of the Majlis Amanah Rakyat (Mara) building in Jalan Raja Laut to be converted to Low Yat 2.

“This plaza targets 100% Malay traders and suppliers of tech gadgets, mobile phones and telecommunication goods.

“It is a regrettable proposal, as Ismail, who is a Cabinet Minister, shoulders the responsibility to develop mutual understanding in our country instead of undermining racial integration with such remarks,” he said, adding that the proposal reeked of racial differentiation and segregation.

Chai stressed that Ismail should comprehend that Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar had announced that the Low Yat Plaza incident was a straightforward case of shoplifting a mobile phone and nothing to do with race.

“In our current electronic information age, I do not object to the establishment of any centre or store to retail telecommunication goods.

“However, setting restrictions on businesses based solely on race, turns the initial simple case of shoplifting into an ethnic issue,” he added.

Ismail Sabri made the proposal for Low Yat 2 when he attended a Hari Raya open house on Tuesday.