YOURSAY ‘His statements confirmed that he is the most despicable racist.’

Ismail Sabri 'regrets' but is not sorry

David Dass: Agriculture minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob, this is not a duty owed to a BN component party. It is a duty owed to the people you accused of profiteering at the expense of the Malays. It is a duty owed to Chinese traders.

Ismail Sabri said that his expression of regret was not an apology. Indeed, he did not regret making the statement. He only regretted that the statement caused tension.

It is truly remarkable how easy it is these days for politicians to make what are blatantly racist remarks.

The MCA said that it was a closed issue and let the people decide. What does that mean? It clearly means that the MCA could not persuade him to do more that express regret that his statement caused tension.

But it could also mean that the Chinese community and others who feel strongly about the issue should not vote for the man at the next elections.

Napoleon: We "regret" to inform Ismail Sabri that his statements have only confirmed that he is the most despicable racist. And that the police are being partial for not arresting him for his seditious remarks while many others were treated differently.

All fair-minded Malaysians shall stop supporting political parties that condone such behaviour. Thanks to Ismail Sabri for reminding us what BN stands for.

The Chinese should also remember how fast the eunuchs from MCA ‘kowtow’ to someone who has just insulted the entire community.

Kee Thuan Chye: The headline is misleading. Regret is a feeling someone has when they realise that what they did was not quite right.

But in this case, what Ismail Sabri is regretting is that other people took his statement and gave it a racial slant. In other words, he is blaming others. That is not regret at all.

He is not feeling that he did something that was not right. In fact, saying what he did makes him lower in esteem because he doesn't admit that the racial slant was already inherent in his original statement.

He is still denying that which is so clear to the whole world. He shows no honour whatsoever.

Commentable: Essentially this is what Ismail Sabri is saying - he says he does not regret his statement but he regrets the consequence that had arisen out of it.

But one cannot have the consequence without looking at the primary cause. The primary causal effect is that arising from his statement, and because that statement had a prima facie racial slant to it, there cannot be any other view except one - the ethnic issue.

Now if he regrets the consequence, he should also regret the cause that created it in the first place. Otherwise his "regret" has no meaning at all.

What is there to regret if not for his statement? If there is any truth in what he says, the only thing forthcoming should be an unreserved apology. 

Versey: The tone of his voice and facial expression show his defiant attitude, and the word   "regret" from him clearly shows there's no intention to apologise for his racist remarks and he is remorseless for the hurt inflicted on the other communities and his MCA buddies.

It's more like "Too bad you feel that way" rather than "I'm sorry I made you feel that way". Period.

The agricultural minister is not a gentleman, or else he would not need people to press him for an apology even if it was just a slip of the tongue.

Being an ignorant cum recalcitrant politician, as expected, he would capitalise on the knowledge that the MCA goons would not dare to seriously pursue a real apology from him.

Given that MCA's vote banks come from the rural Malays, and party chief Liow Tiong Lai and his gang value their ministerial positions more than anything else, how would they dare risk their cosy cabinet positions since dignity is of no meaning to them?

By reneging on their pre-election vow of not joining the cabinet if they could not perform better than GE12, they have laid their cards for all to see.

GH Porrig: There are really only two ways for Ismail Sabri to resolve the situation. The best way is to admit his mistake, apologise and move on.

The other way is to quickly and quietly fade into the background without saying anything more that may further aggravate the situation - a case of out of sight, out of mind.

If he follows the second way, the public may let the issue slide by interpreting that he has tacitly admitted his mistake.

Currently, by defending his statements and showing defiance, he is only creating a stronger negative public impression of his action.

Supercession: It's okay to be racist, Ismail Sabri. After all, that's the norm of the party to which you belong.

Myrights: If you change the words “Chinese” to “Malay” in his statement, and if the comment was made by an opposition politician or anyone else, they would have arrested that person for sedition right away.

RSOH: Regret that his posting took a racial slant? His statement was racist to begin with. It's him who's trying to "slant" it into something else. And failing very miserably at that.

For Ismail Sabri, a case of ‘bodoh sombong’

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