Rural and Regional Development Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob said his actions in helping the bumiputeras or when he talked about Majlis Amanah Rakyat (MARA) was not because he is a racist.

"I never assume when Chinese ministers ask for additional teachers for Chinese schools they are racists. Why should I be accused of being a racist when I want to help the bumiputeras?

"If they want to (accuse me of being a racist), they can keep on doing that but they must be rational," he told a press conference after a get-together with village security and development committee (JKKK) members from around Perlis in Kangar today.   

Ismail Sabri, who is also an UMNO supreme council member, was asked to comment accusations hurled at him that he was being a racist for proposing a Low Yat 2 plaza be built for Malay traders in Kuala Lumpur.

He said that it was unfair for Malay ministers to be called racists for

standing up for their race.

He added the new Low Yat Plaza idea was not an ill intention, but it could become a successful business arcade model to be emulated by the Malays.

"The establishment of Mara is to protect the interests of the Malays in the education and economy fields, including providing loans, which should be understood by the other races.

"Actually, those who labelled me a racist are more racist than me," Ismail Sabri said dejectedly.

During the programme, he handed over a mock cheque worth RM4.39 million to Perlis Menteri Besar Azlan Man as allowances for 387 JKKK members in Perlis.

The Low Yat Plaza in Kuala Lumpur is a "must go to place" for those seeking ICT items.

- Bernama