Ag04riculture and Agro-based Industries Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob’s threat that applications for agricultural funds and projects in Permatang Pauh will not be approved if Pakatan Rakyat wins the by-election again has further proven that he is most unfit to be a Cabinet Minister.
A democratic election must be free, fair and clean. Any political threat is totally unacceptable and cannot be condoned.
It is time that the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib should exercise leadership quality and expel him from the Cabinet.
Early this year, Ismail Sabri had made the racist and insensitive remarks which angered Malaysians when he called on Malays to boycott Chinese businesses to lower prices.
His remarks was a clear challenge to Najib’s 1 Malaysia concept, yet it was puzzling that the Prime Minister could be so tolerant of Ismail as not only did he not reprimand Ismail, a statement from the Prime Minister’s Department had defended Ismail and said that his remarks were not targeting a specific race but meant to rebuke traders who refused to lower the price of goods.
After making the “ no fund approval if Wan Azizah wins” warning to Permatang Pauh voters three days ago, Ismail subsequently tried to explain that the warning was made as it was easier for voters to get help from a Barisan Nasional minister than from a Pakatan Rakyat representative.
Given the excuses and explanations Ismail had made after his racist call on Malays to boycott Chinese businesses, it should not come as a surprise that he has now tried to offer excuses for his warning to Permatang Pauh voters.
If any Minister in the United Kingdom, Australia, Korea or Japan has made the racist “boycott Chinese traders” call that Ismail had made, there is no doubt that he/she will have to resign from the Cabinet or face expulsion from the Prime Minister.
And if a Minister in those countries has made a remark that he will not approve applications for agricultural funds from an opposition representative, he/she too will be forced to resign or be expelled from the Cabinet.
Never before the nation had a Minister who had made such irresponsible and hurtful racist remarks, yet Ismail has been allowed to remain in office. It looks like he will again remain in office after threatening the Parmatang Pauh voters.
In February this year, the Prime Minister had defended Ismail with the excuse that Ismail was not targeting a specific race when it was so clear to all that Ismail had targeted the Chinese traders.
With his latest irresponsible threat that he will not approve any agricultural funds if Wan Azizah wins, Malaysians want to know what will be the Prime Minister’s excuse for not expelling Ismail from his office?