Ismail Sabri bad for nation-building, must resign, says civil society group

The Umno minister who called for a Malay boycott of Chinese businesses must be removed from the Cabinet so as not to derail Malaysia's nation-building, the Negara-Ku People's Movement said today, becoming the first civil society group to ask for Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob's immediate resignation.

The non-governmental organisation (NGO) argued that ethnocentric and communal-minded politicians must not be allowed to derail the process of inclusive nation building.

The group in a statement today said if Ismail, who is Agriculture and Agro-based Industries minister, would not resign from the Cabinet, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak must fire him.

"It is paramount to safeguard the peace and harmony of our nation at all times.

"We are shocked and appalled to read that a Cabinet minister had found it politically expedient to pit one group of citizens against another," the Negara-Ku steering committee said.

The group asked Ismail if he had forgotten the words of the King, who had decreed that all Malaysians must put the unity of the nation first.

The NGO cited the royal address of the Yang Di-Pertuan Agong in March last year during the first meeting of the second 13th Parliament session, where the monarch said “all parties are to refrain from making any statement or action that might be deemed provocative or sensitive.

The King said everyone had to be mindful that when unity disintegrated, the country will head towards destruction.

"On Sunday, in commemorating Federal Territory Day, His Majesty again reminded the people to cast aside political differences and racist attitudes inherent in ourselves; and to give priority to racial unity, which is the foundation since the nation became independent 56 years ago.

"It is abundantly clear that minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob has forgotten, or worst still, has chosen to blatantly ignore the wise words of His Majesty," said the committee.

Ismail Sabri drew flak after posting a message on the social media website Facebook, calling for Malays to help the government bring the price of goods down by boycotting Chinese businesses.

"Forgive me for sharing my views, but besides the Ministry of Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism, which uses the Price Control Act and the Anti-Profiteering Act to act against traders who raise their prices indiscriminately, the greatest power lies with the consumers.

"The majority of consumers are Malay, Chinese are a minority, if the Malays boycott their businesses, they will surely have no choice but to reduce their prices," he had said.

The minister is also embroiled in a controversial allegation he made in the same post against DAP deputy secretary-general Datuk Ngeh Koo Ham, whom he claimed had shares in the popular OldTown White Coffee cafe chain owned by OldTown Bhd.

Ngeh has denied owning any shares in the company and has asked for an apology from Ismail Sabri, who also called the DAP Beruas MP "anti-Islam".

"Malays are still refusing to boycott (OldTown White Coffee), what more when its owner is said to be the DAP Ngeh family of Perak, who are known to be anti-Islam.

"As long as the Malays don't change, the Chinese will take the opportunity to oppress the Malays," Ismail Sabri had said in his post.

The Negara-Ku steering committee said this particular remark – that Chinese oppressed the Malays – was tantamount to inciting hostility and sowing enmity between the ethnic groups.

"As such, we demand that he resigns his post immediately, failing which, we demand that the Prime Minister terminates the services of Ismail Sabri as a member of the Federal Cabinet.

"This would give a clear signal to the people that the Government will not condone any action by any person, to incite hatred in our multi-ethnic, multi-faith, multicultural society and to undermine the unity of our beloved nation," the group said.

Zaid Kamaruddin is chairman of the Negara-Ku steering committee while former Bar Council president and former Berish 2.0 chairperson Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan is the group's patron. – February 3, 2015.