YOURSAY ‘Is Ismail Sabri so important that the PM has to do his bidding?’

PMO claims Ismail did not target Chinese traders

WDA: Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob’s original Facebook posting referred to Chinese traders. He then lied in his follow-up posting that he only referred to "stubborn" Chinese traders.

Then the PM took the lying a few notches higher by saying that Ismail did not refer specifically to any race. Isn't it mind-boggling how these so-called leaders can blatantly lie when the posting is in black and white for everyone to see?

This is exactly why BN loses Chinese votes, and when that happens they make a big hue and cry over it and shout at the top of their lungs, "Apa lagi Cina mahu?"

Well for starters, “Cina mahu” honesty, integrity and credibility - virtues that seem to be very wanting with this shameless ruling government.

A respectful and bold PM would have said: "Ismail Sabri was wrong to have uttered such statements on the Chinese. I have reprimanded him and he realises that he had made a serious mistake. He is sincerely regretful and will issue an apology soon.

“I would advise all leaders from both sides of the aisle to measure their words before speaking or putting them in writing, and to be sensitive to the feelings of all. Let us respect and care for one another, irrespective of race. This is how we make our country great.

“On this issue, the government realises that there are errant traders of all races who are quick to raise prices when fuel prices go up marginally but are hesitant to bring prices down when fuel prices drop significantly.

“Let us collectively boycott such traders so as to force them to bring prices down for the benefit of all.”

Unfortunately, no such words were uttered since a respectful and bold PM we have not.

Kee Thuan Chye: What's the matter with PM Najib Razak? He can't read and comprehend? And what about this from Ismail Sabri - "As long as the Malays fail to change, the Chinese will take the opportunity to oppress the Malays"?

That's uncalled-for coming from a cabinet minister. He's creating racial disharmony. Even old Dr Mahathir Mohamad could comprehend correctly and tick Ismail Sabri off. What kind of a leader do we have in Putrajaya?

Azhar: Yes, that is the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) interpretation but what the minister said is louder and clearer, thus drowning the interpretation. We cannot have ministers, of all people, making such statements.

Here, we are trying to repair the damage that has been caused by extremists and promoting moderation and we have ministers just doing the opposite.

Why target just one ethnic group? What about those selling nasi lemak, roti canai and thosai? Have they reduced their prices? If not, shouldn't the minister ask consumers to boycott them too?

Note the word “consumers”. Please go back to school. Open your blinkers. Wake up from your slumber. Please do not feed us rubbish and poison the minds of the rakyat. Salam 1Malaysia.

Cicak Tokek: We are living in a multiracial country and it is our duty to respect one another and live in peace. Malaysians are one family and we are against anyone who creates racial tension, hatred and disharmony.

With the reduction in oil prices recently, consumers must be smart in exercising their buying power by avoiding unreasonable traders. This will help put pressure on them and hopefully force these traders to reduce their prices to the benefit of all Malaysians.

If all the traders reduce their prices, it will directly help all Malaysians to lower their cost of living while the traders can still make an honest living.

Lower prices also mean more customer loyalty and higher sales volume that can compensate a lower profit margin.

Ferdtan: Is Najib so weak that he not only dared not rebuke his subordinate for the racist statement, but in a vain attempt to extenuate the ‘crime’ which will surely brings ridicule to himself?

How can a boss, a PM, bend down so low to help his minister for his idiotic racist statement which he still refuses to withdraw and apologise? Is Ismail Sabri so important and powerful that a PM has to come out in public to do his bidding?

Yes, Mr Prime Minister, you have won the support of one ultra-Umno minister but you have lost a few millions of Chinese Malaysians permanently.

We guess the PM’s immediate concern now is not to lose the precious Umno leaders’ support in his fight against his party adversaries led by his political thorn, Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

See what the lust of power (in this case to keep his post) can make a person to behave and say what a normal sane person would not. 

Vijay47: In a long line of weak vague positions taken, our shameless and spineless prime minister has outdone his own contemptible record. 

When a minister from his party specifically refers to the Chinese and goes berserk attributing all manner of injustices and oppression by the Chinese against the Malays, Najib sees the entire racist tirade as a call for a reduction of prices. 

Pray tell me, Najib, how does the heaping of these countless sins on the Chinese miraculously convert itself into an universal urging to lower prices?

This was not misconception or confusion on our part, it was the natural interpretation of comments made by an extremist, an extremist who you and those in your party seem to hold in such high regard.

If it were an innocent non-racial advice, why did only Umno and not others support him? This is Perkasa chief Ibrahim Ali all over again.

You did not even reproach Ismail Sabri. How could you, when you are only Najib?

Najib, your 1Malaysia is an odious farce

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