The Malaysian Insight

INVESTOR confidence, especially from China, is not affected as yet by the calls to boycott non-Muslim products, said Malaysia’s special envoy to China Tan Kok Wai.

He, however, was quick to warn that such a boycott can have serious repercussions if not curbed as not only sending the wrong message to investors but also undermining national unity.

“Such a boycott hasn’t affected foreign investors’ confidence in our country at the moment but the government must nip the problem in the bud,” Tan told The Malaysian Insight.

“While such racially motivated actions are normal at times in this multi-ethnic Malaysia, they are at the same time inappropriate,” said the Cheras MP.

Tan, who is also chairman of the Malaysia-China Business Council, said the boycott of non-Muslim products was against national interests and will have a negative impact on national stability.

He believed that the people will use their wisdom to size up the situation and not simply respond to the boycott call.

The National Patriots Association (Patriot) recently criticised Pakatan Harapan for not standing up to the Muslim groups spearheading the boycott.

Tan, however, disagreed and said the government isn’t slow in to respond to the boycott.

He said when the Muslim groups launched the boycott campaign, the government was quick to declare that it does not support it and instead, encouraged Malaysians to buy Malaysian products.

“There are people who are hell-bent on provoking or causing disunity, creating confrontations among the various ethnic groups and sending Malaysia head-long into chaos.

“I call on the people of this country to rise up and fight against the boycott movement,” he said.

President of the Associated Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Malaysia (ACCCIM), Ter Leong Yap, agrees that the boycott of non-Muslim products is impractical and that no one agrees with it.

“Malaysia is advocating national unity, the integration of all ethnic groups and their contribution to the national economy.

“The boycott movement is meaningless.

“I don’t want to respond too much to them as it would be giving them free publicity,” he told The Malaysian Insight. – September 15, 2019.