YOURSAY  ‘Liow and those unhappy with Ismail, they can just go take a hike.’

Ismail Sabri 'regrets' but is not sorry

SteveOh: Incredible. It is like saying to someone, "You are ugly," and when they get upset, to then say, "I regret you think you are ugly."

When will these people be honest enough to own up to what they said, and if the response is negative, then apologise. What's so hard in saying, "I'm sorry I offended you, I shouldn't have said that."

Ismail Sabri Yaakob can't claim he was misquoted. He wrote those offensive comments in his Facebook. Indeed there is something rotten when politicians try to lie their way out of their own gaffes and make matters worse.

Aries46: Is this what is termed 'bodoh sombong'? Ismail Sabri has clearly made a mistake in blaming the Chinese traders for the raise in cost of living and he has made it worse by making some senseless racist rhetoric and getting his party members involved.

It is common knowledge that there are many cost factors that contribute to price of goods and services and no one race controls these. Any amount of explaining will not undo the damage done and it is stupid to drag others into his own bungle.

Malaysians are a forgiving lot and I just can't understand why he cannot admit his mistake and say sorry. By being adamant, he is merely twisting the issue and gives it a political angle to cover up his own stupidity.

Straight Talk Joe 51: If it's regret without regretting what you have posted, I wonder what are you regretting.

Please do not insult the intelligence of rational Malaysians. It's not what you said that was misconstrued or twisted, but it's what you have written, and you don't have the excuse to say that your statement is spun.

Lamborghini: What kind of a man and minister is Ismail Sabri? He doesn't want to apologise over a clear insult against an ethnic minority and he doesn't regret his statement. He only regrets the effect of his statement.

It is like a youth who had committed sex and caused his girlfriend to be pregnant and when caught, regrets that he caused the pregnancy instead of repenting for his immorality.

Anonymous_3e86: It's pointless to ask for an apology from this arrogant minister. He doesn't regret his statement nor will he ever apologise for it.

So leave it be and make our voices heard in the next GE (which I believe he won't be contesting by the controversy that he has created). Vote BN out once and for all. That will take care of all the arrogant and racist ministers.

KayL: As expected Ismail will not apologise. To him there is nothing wrong at all with his call for Malays to boycott Chinese traders. He meant and believed every word he wrote in his first FB posting.

So what is there to apologise? If there is anyone out there who has been offended then that's just too bad. That was exactly what he wanted. He won.

Thousands of his supporters had welcomed him as their hero. The PM had given his endorsement too. So Liow and those of you who are still unhappy with Ismail, just go take a hike.

Myviews: Umno has written off the Chinese votes. So, passing disparaging remarks is inconsequential to them and they do it with great arrogance.

What they do not know is how much support they have from the urban Malays. They cannot find out from their controlled and compliant mass media.

To find out from the alternative media, they've got to create issues every now and then and see how people react. (Urban Malays have access to the alternative media, remember?)

So, what better way than to rile up the people with all kinds of insults and see how people react on the alternative media. If they see a reasonable pro-government response, then they know they're making a breakthrough.

But if there is an overwhelming negative reaction, then it's a no-go to call for any snap election. It's a kind of survey. So, do not let your guards down but spread the news. We must get rid of all these fat cats.

Anonymous_1419577444: MCA chief Liow Tiong Lai, your political comrade just sticks his middle finger at you in front of the nation.

You can continue to bark if you wish. We, the people, have moved on. We are not interested in what you or MCA will do because there is nothing you can do. Neither are we bothered about an apology from Ismail Sabri.

We will just continue to work to put food on the table. And we will remember which box to tick at the next election.

Swipenter: I regret to tell Ismail Sabri that "Chinese traders" means "Chinese traders" and it definitely excludes Malay, Indian and other ethnic traders or all traders. Same goes for "stubborn Chinese traders."

Unless now when one utters the word "Chinese" then it has taken a new meaning to mean "all Malaysians" or "stubborn Malaysians." This must be a new kind of "Umno Baru speak".

FellowMalaysian: What Ismail Sabri is saying is that he has no regret for what he had said so far and there is nothing for him to apologise for.  Liow, your next move.

Minister, we 'regret' to say you're a racist

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