SAPP: Parliament Should Censure Government And Minister For Fanning Racial Sentiments

KOTA KINABALU - Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) has urged Members of Parliament to move a motion to censure the Minister of Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob for fanning racial sentiments.

Its deputy president Melanie Chia Chui Ket (photo) said Ismail’s statement calling for boycott of Chinese traders who refuse to lower the prices of goods and that this was seen as an act of sabotage to create public anger against the government, is utterly irresponsible and dangerous.

“Coming from a cabinet member, such a racist statement reflects the dismal failure of the national unity in Malaysia. His utterance will further harm the harmony among the races in Malaysia.

“For a cabinet member to make such utterance confirms that the government is taking a racial line and destroying what has been proclaimed by the government under its 1 Malaysia concept!

“It is only right that the police acts promptly on this by not just saying they will investigate the call made by Ismail Sabri but take immediate action. Members of parliament should also move a motion of censure against this government and minister for fanning racial sentiments,” she said.

Melanie Chia

The former Luyang Assemblywoman (right) also contended that the Minister is utterly naïve to suggest that it is only the traders who should bring down their prices in response to the drop in the prices of oil.

“He has forgotten that when the tariff for electricity was increased, the government was already forewarned of the spiraling effects of the spate of increases in energy price on the business community.

“And the effects of the increases in electricity tariff on the prices of goods and services have already been entrenched into the pricing in businesses,” she said.

Chia further contended that the government could have reduced tariffs of electricity in response to the fallen oil prices and reduced public transport costs, especially where the government linked companies are also public transport providers.