Veterans group slams boycott non-Muslim products campaign as 'immature', 'idiotic'

PETALING JAYA: Army veterans have slammed the campaign to boycott non-Muslim products as "immature", adding that the government has not done enough to stop the "nonsense".

National Patriots Association (Patriot) president Brigadier-General (Rtd) Datuk Mohamed Arshad Raji (pic) said the campaign is a danger to the country's economy.

"Such call is nonsensical, idiotic, immature, disruptive, and threatens to hinder progress economically," he said.

He said the Pakatan Harapan leadership is not doing enough to "stem this nonsense".

"Cabinet members seem to be waiting for the Prime Minister’s cue to act. It is either they do not have a mind of their own or are unprincipled enough," he said.

Patriot called on all those responsible to stop the campaign on products boycott.

"Patriot has said it before, and we reiterate it now. We must all think as Malaysians.

"It does not matter if a Malay, Chinese, Indian, Kadazan, Dayak, or even an Orang Asli is rich and awarded contracts.

"What is most important is that rich Malaysian tycoons and those awarded the contracts use their wealth and position to general jobs and economic activities within the country," he said.

Arshad said it is the aggregate of the per capita income that matters most.

He said while the equity of wealth distribution by ethnic and geographical composition is important, it is for "the ingenuity of our officials to sort out in the best manner, and to not pander to divisive and obstructive ethno-religious politicking.”

He added that those orchestrating the boycott should instead make economic issues like India's additional levy on palm oil imports and the poverty rate the priority in the national discourse.

Recently, certain groups have been pushing for a campaign on social media to boycott goods produced by non-Muslims.

The campaign has been denounced by many, including Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

Earlier this week, the Cabinet supported calls to "Buy Malaysian Goods" and rejected the "narrow stand" to boycott non-Muslim products.