Its president, Datuk Michael Lui Yen Sang, said the minister’s controversial remark was totally unacceptable. He said it would instigate the racial sentiments and social harmony would be disrupted.
He welcomed the assurance by Inspector General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar that the police would be calling the minister to record his remark.
Lui hoped the police will conduct the investigation with full integrity and diligently without any fear or favour.
He explained that the price hikes are determined by internal and external factors in an open market. It is very unwise to blame on a certain race for the increase.
“The minister should not pinpoint the Chinese traders predominantly over the recent prices hike. Besides, the minister should not analyze the issues according to the ethnic perspective and therefore he is totally unfit to hold the ministerial post,” he added.
Lui acknowledged that there is freedom for consumers to boycott any traders who are still reluctant to lower their prices. Consumers, on the other hand should practise prudent and smart spending for their goods or services.
“Generally the fully open market is determined by consumers themselves and there is absolutely nothing to do with ethnic sentiment,” he pointed out.
Ismail Sabri explained on Monday that his statement on boycotting Chinese traders which had gone viral on social websites, was actually meant at asking the people to exercise their power and rights as consumers to put pressure on traders who were profiteering.
He said the wholesalers and traders’ refusal to lower the price of goods after the drop in oil price was seen as an act of sabotage to create public anger against the government.
He also said his statement on boycott was his personal opinion and not directed at all members of the Chinese community, but at wholesalers and traders who still did not want to reduce the price of goods although petrol price had gone down.
Khalid said on Monday that the police would investigate Ismail Sabri’s remark.
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