Selangor executive council member for investment, industry and trade Teresa Kok today defended her visit to a factory jointly owned by a Singapore firm and government-linked Bernas as part of her duties as state exco.

"I went there to officiate its new plant in Shah Alam as the people's representative.

"I have also attended many functions by companies that are fully or partially owned by BN people, including programmes by Syabas, because I am doing my job."

NONEWhen Pakatan is in power, Kok (left in photo) argued, it deasl with and takes care of people of different backgrounds.

She was responding to brickbats from various quarters after she visited the Gardenia bread factory in Shah Alam during its May 11 opening.

"As we in Pakatan Rakyat criticise racial discrimination policies by Umno and BN, it is important that we do not to repeat BN's lost ways and behave like it.

"We must walk the talk and show that Pakatan is inclusive, that we do not discriminate because of racial or political differences."

She also reasoned that to boycott everything with links to BN in the country, which is dominated by the ruling coalition, would be difficult.

"I wonder how many products or businesses we should boycott in Malaysia, which would include housing development companies (for many developers are BN cronies and BN people), water supply (Syabas is owned by a key Umno Selangor man Rozali Ismail), rice (controlled by Bernas), banks (many are controlled by Umno people), food chains, supermarkets, Da Ma Cai, privatised tolled roads, etc," the Seputeh MP argued.

Kuok vs Syed Mokhtar

Gardenia has been caught in a vicious online campaign since last year, accusing it of being a crony company.

robert kuokThe campaign calls on consumers to support rival bread company Massimo, which entered the market recently.

One email reads: "Let's support the new Massimo bread by Robert Kuok (right) and boycott Gardenia bread owned by Umno crony Syed Mokhtar Albukhary's Tradewind group."

Alarmed by the campaign that has taken a racial undertone, Gardenia Bakeries (KL) Sdn Bhd issued a statement in November last year.

"Gardenia takes pride in being everything that a good Malaysian company should be. We employ highly professional and ethical people regardless of race or religion."

In its statement, the company attached several pictures of its office with the words "There's just once race, the human race" framed on its walls.

It added that Bernas, owned by Syed Mokthar, has held a 30 percent stake in Gardenia since 2001.