COMMENTARY BY THE MALAYSIAN INSIDER
2 February 2015

We have celebrated 51 years as Malaysians but to some people, we are still in the racial silos of Malay, Chinese, Indian and Others. And with that come all the stereotypes of each race.

Mind you, this racial mindset still persists despite Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s 1Malaysia campaign to bring all Malaysians together after the fractious 2008 polls where Barisan Nasional (BN) saw its majority evaporate to less than the customary two-thirds in the federal parliament.

1Malaysia has been hardly heard of since BN’s further losses in 2013 and there is a good reason for that: Najib’s colleagues in his hand-picked Cabinet have not much regard for it.

Take the latest volley from Agriculture and Agro-based Industries Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob, who wrote in his Facebook account that the Malays should boycott Chinese businesses, singling out the Old Town White Coffee franchise because of its alleged DAP links.

The minister has stood by his statement, telling The Malaysian Insider that it was directed at Chinese businesses whom he said were “reluctant” to lower their prices.

“I am referring to Chinese traders who are reluctant to reduce the prices of goods even though the price of petrol has come down.

“What I want to emphasise is for people not to depend solely on the government to ensure the prices of goods come down because as consumers, they can use their power to pressure businesses,” he said.

In his Facebook post, Ismail singled out the Old Town White Coffee chain owned by the Ipoh-based OldTown Bhd, saying Perak DAP chairman Datuk Ngeh Khoo Ham owned shares in the company.

“Malays are still refusing to boycott (Old Town 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,” said Ismail.

Really, Mr Minister? Businessmen single out people based on race? Is that what you are saying? Is everything in this country based on racial profiling, then?

Are people rewarded or oppressed on the basis of race? Is that the message you want to give to the rest of the world?

Your statement, Mr Minister, plumbs new lows even by the low standards of the Cabinet that leads this country. It tells us why 1Malaysia never took off. How can it if the prime minister’s handpicked men do not believe in it and use race to provoke a business boycott?

Your attitude further divides the country at a time when Malaysia needs even more unity to face a gloomy world economy.

Your attitude gives another reason for people to stop supporting BN as the ruling coalition.

Your attitude just shows that you are a poor excuse for a Malaysian, let alone a minister.

The only silver lining about people like you is that it can hopefully unite Malaysians against this racial mindset and racism plaguing Malaysia. – February 2, 2015.