Traditional foes DAP and MCA found a common enemy today when Agriculture and Agro-Based Industry Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob urged Malay consumers to boycott Chinese businesses in order to bring prices down.

In separate statements, the youth wings of both parties lambasted the minister for "racism".

Also joining the fray is Gerakan Youth chief Tan Keng Liang, who said Ismail Sabri is an "imbecile" for angering the Chinese.

"BN just scored an own goal today! Thank you minister! Goodbye Chinese traders!" he tweeted.
Agreeing, MCA Youth chief Chong Sin Won went a step further by questioning if Ismail Sabri should still be in cabinet.

"His statement is racist, totally violates the spirit of the constitution, the national practice of moderation as well as the multiracial spirit of the BN government.

"(It) does not represent the cabinet and the BN…he does not qualify to be a minister," Choong said in a statement.

Echoing him, DAP Youth chief Teo Kok Seong said Ismail Sabri was trying to divert attention from anticipated price hikes with the implementation of the goods and services tax on April 1.

"His statement is irresponsible, racist, seditious and hurtful for all Malaysians," Teo said.

Teo (right) said prices surged due to the cabinet decision to cut fuel subsidies.

Acknowledging that prices have not come down despite the dramatic drop in fuel prices in the past month, he said the solution should be stiffer enforcement against profiteering.

He also questioned why Ismail Sabri had plied the same pressure against power provider Tenaga Nasional Bhd (TNB) to reduce electricity tariffs given the drop in fuel prices.

"Instead he tries to point the finger on Chinese traders. This only shows he is bowing down to big businesses,” he said.

MCA is only open to ethnic Chinese Malaysians while most of Gerakan and DAP members are ethnic Chinese.

Gerakan: We're fed up with racist politicians

Joining the fray, Gerakan national legal and human rights bureau chief Baljit Singh said the remark is unacceptable as traders come from all ethnic communities.

"The Minister's statement reflects badly on us as a nation. He should be part of the solution, not the problem," Baljit told Malaysiakini.

Baljit said the people are fed-up with politicians from both the political divide who stir up racial sentiments with their racist slant.

He urged all politicians to desist from dealing with problems from a racial perspective.

"All issues including the rise in cost of living affects all communities.

"So please find a solution that all can relate to instead of a narrow perspective which can only lead to further polarisation in our country," he stressed.

Ismail Sabri in a Facebook post called on Malay consumers to boycott Chinese traders, to bring down prices of consumer goods.

He also questioned why Malays flock to Chinese restaurants even if their halal certification may be suspect.

Additional reporting by Susan Loone

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