Sabri will not apologise to Ngeh and Chinese community

PUTRAJAYA: Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob today said he would not apologise to Datuk Ngeh Koo Ham or his family over his alleged remark that the Perak DAP adviser owned shares in the Old Town White Coffee cafe franchise.
"No, no. Of course, I won't apologise to him. There's no reason for me to apologise to Ngeh. If he understood (the statement made), as he and I are lawyers, he should understand when I mentioned that Old Town is said (dikatakan) to be owned by him. This word doesn't mean that I'm pointing my finger at him that he owns it. I think he should understand the term first," he said at a news conference at the Putrajaya Lake Club here after attending a Cabinet meeting.
Two days ago, Ngeh, the MP for Beruas and state assemblyman for Sitiawan, had given the minister 48 hours to make a public apology and should he fail to do so, a police report would be made against Ismail Sabri.
The minister said that he would not issue an apology nor retract his initial statement which had a tinge of racial sentiment towards the Chinese community.
"As I've mentioned earlier, what I've explained from the aspect of (my) intention has been noble and to protect the interest of all consumers," he said.
On MCA Youth chief Chong Sin Woon's call to have him removed from his post, he said the call was wrong because only the prime minister has the power and prerogative to appoint an individual as part of the government.
He added that both him and MCA president Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai had met and spoken prior to the Cabinet meeting.
"That's a usual matter because Liow and I are good friends; there's no problem between us as MCA and Umno are component parties (of Barisan Nasional). If there's anything that needs to be discussed, it would be done," he said.
He declined to comment on their discussion and if his statement was mentioned during the meeting.
On the rift between MCA and Umno due to his remarks which allegedly called on Malays to boycott Chinese traders, Ismail Sabri, the Bera MP, said: "Not all are split (on the issue) because Wanita MIC and some of the party's Youth members agree with my statement because as a whole, I've stated that it is for those traders who are stubborn and refuse to lower down the prices (of essential goods).
"We should see this issue from a positive angle. If seen from a negative aspect, then this will never end," he said.
Earlier, a group of Umno divisional chiefs reiterated their support for the minister.
One of the spokesmen, Datuk Syed Ali Alhabshee, Cheras Umno divisional chief, said they would stand together with him once he is called to testify by the police.
Meanwhile, Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar said Ismail Sabri has been notified by police to turn up for questioning and the latter assured he would give his cooperation.
He said police will also summon and record the statements of several DAP, Gerakan and MCA politicians who had responded to the minister's comments.
Ismail Sabri is being investigated for making a statement that could cause fear, alarm and disrupt public tranquillity under Section 505b of the Penal Code.
"I urge all parties involved to stop such open discussions that could further aggravate the situation because there are many quarters out there who will take advantage of the situation when it involves racial ties. This will only worsen the situation. When it comes to matters such as this, it is better to hold a roundtable discussion." Khalid said today after launching the Samsung Smart Library at the Police Officers' College in Cheras.
Although Khalid had said he would be questioned today, it is learnt that Ismail Sabri did not meet police.
However, at 5pm, reporters gathered at the Putrajaya district police headquarters after word went around that Ismail Sabri would show up.
An hour later, the reporters left after learning he was still at the Putrajaya Lake Club with other Umno members.
Putrajaya police chief ACP Abdul Razak Abdul Majid, when contacted, said he had not received any instructions from Bukit Aman to quiz Ismail.