Minister Sabri’s Unjust Statement Should Be Withdrawn

by : Hiew King Cheu

The statement made by the Federal Agriculture and Agro-based Industry minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob to call upon the Malays to boycott the Malaysian Chinese traders for refusing to bring down the prices of goods was not right and that attracted strong disagreement and protests.

The MCA Luyang Assemblyman in Sabah Dr. Hiew King Cheu has been following the episode   closely and had listened to many views and comments from the ground. The MCA top leaderships have resolved in a recent meeting to ask the minister to withdraw his statement. 

Hiew said he supports the MCA resolution and it is a noble way for the minister to withdraw his statement in view of the national unity and harmony. At the same time, this should not be the issue to spark the fire to create any racial unrest and breaking up the fine relationship that we are enjoying now, especially in the business sector shared by all Malaysian.

In Malaysia, the Chinese are doing their role to assist in the building of the country’s economy. They are the same like in many other countries in the world. They work hard along side with other races, like with the Malays and Indian who are the top key leaders in the Malaysian business circle. 

Of course, as far as the prices of goods are concerned, the blames should not be 100% going to the Chinese people, Hiew commented. This is solely because the present market situation is not monopolized by only the Chinese community, due to the fact that it is a very diverse market situation. The big boys in Malaysian market are a mixture of various races, there is very few or no more single-raced businesses now.

Hiew opined that in Malaysia today, we should be thinking as 1-Malaysian, and there is no room for racist thinking. We cannot use racial issues to achieve or to gain political mileage nor on any personal interest gain. This will only bring about the breaking up of the harmony and unity between the Malaysian that we have worked so hard for. It is not worth destroying. We should be sensitive and reasonable towards this issue and should be no finger-pointing.

The minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri should learn more from the Sabahan and Sarawakian on how we are having harmonious relationships among each other. The key factor is because we shared the similar thinking, respects and culture, and we treasure our harmony and unity very much. It will be worthwhile for the minister to come to Sabah to visit personally more often during our festive season to observe and to learn more about why and how the Sabahan and Sarawakian can live together. 

To simplify further, in Sabah we are sensitive to each other, and with a bit of extra respects without touching on race and religion matters, we are living much happier. 

I urge with sincerity that the Minister can retract and withdraw his statement gracefully and let life goes on peacefully, and it is a noble thing to do.