Boycotting non-Muslim products ‘very unreasonable’, says Cabinet

KUALA LUMPUR: A call to boycott products manufactured by non-Muslims in the country has been condemned by the Cabinet as being “very unreasonable.”

The Cabinet rejects the narrow-minded thinking and stance by certain parties as it could be detrimental to the harmony and prosperity of the country, it said, noting such a call was also based on racist sentiments.

Instead, Malaysians are urged to support buying locally-made goods as it will benefit the country, the Cabinet said in a statement issued yesterday by the prime minister’s office (PMO) after a meeting chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail.

The issue was raised following a recent campaign on social media by Gerakan Pembela Ummah (Ummah) purportedly calling on the public to boycott goods produced by non-bumiputeras and to buy bumiputera products instead.

Ummah has since clarified it had not called for a boycott of non-Muslim products but had asked consumers to use their purchasing power to support Muslim products.

Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Momahad had previously advised against a boycott of any products irrespective of whether they are produced by bumiputeras or non-bumiputeras. “A boycott is an ineffective weapon, (it will) only create anger. Do not boycott anybody, bumi or non-bumi,” he said.

Likewise, PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim had pointed out such an act was “not healthy in a multi-racial society and pluralistic world”.

Source: TheEdgeMarkets