CHINESE businesses have denied seeing a 50% drop in sales due to the Buy Muslim First campaign, but warned that the harmonious relations between Malaysians risk deteriorating if it is not stopped.

Representatives from the community told The Malaysian Insight that they are concerned about the campaign and want the government to intervene immediately.

Federation of Sundry Goods Merchants’ Associations of Malaysia president Hong Chee Meng said some Muslim friends have mentioned the campaign, but he has not gotten complaints from members on their businesses being impacted.

“We have definitely heard about the campaign, but why are Muslims still frequenting stores owned by non-Muslims?

“This proves that the situation is not nearly as bad as claimed, and that those behind the campaign are a minority trying to incite Muslims for political gain. It is highly irresponsible.

“Even the group that initiated the campaign has clarified the matter, so please don’t politicise it any more. Otherwise, the market will be in chaos.”

He said Malay rights group Gerakan Pembela Ummah’s allegation that Chinese businesses have seen a 50% decline in sales is not true, pointing to the lack of complaints by his federation’s members and the fact that Malays continue to shop at Chinese stores.

“I just got back from a meeting in Malacca. The Chinese traders there did not have any complaints (about a drop in sales). It is business as usual for those with grocery stores in Malay areas.”

Federation of Hawkers and Petty Traders’ Associations president Yow Boon Chuan and Penang Hawkers’ Association chairman Lam Tong Ying, too, said business is smooth.

Ummah and the Malaysian Islamic Consumers’ Association launched the Buy Muslim First campaign with the aim of supporting Muslim businesses to spur the community’s economic growth and give consumers more options of Muslim-made goods.

Ummah chairman Aminuddin Yahaya previously told The Malaysian Insight that the campaign’s goals had been met, with Chinese businesses seeing sales reduced by up to 50%, and Muslim ones recording increases of between 50% and 100%.

He had said the campaign was started to support Muslim businesses, and not to boycott non-Muslim ones, adding that since the movement had yielded the intended results, he hoped that more Muslims would join it.

However, the campaign has been tinged with racism, with calls to boycott non-Muslim businesses and products erupting on social media.

Hong said non-Muslims, too, have misunderstood the campaign’s purpose, and that the Chinese, especially, should clarify the facts.

“For example, when people go to the store to buy food, they will buy products that they prefer. Muslims will naturally buy halal products. It is not as if they prioritise Muslim products. It is a cultural choice.”

Worried that the campaign will morph into a boycott movement, he urged the government to step in, to prevent misleading statements that could stir racial and religious tensions from being issued.

“The government has to take care of the people’s sensitivities. In this multiracial and multicultural society, we cannot allow statements that threaten harmony.”

Yow shared Hong’s views, saying movements that threaten interracial relations have no place in Malaysia.

“For the time being, we have not approached the organisations behind the Buy Muslim First campaign. We want to see what happens before making any plans.”

Lam denied that non-Muslim businesses have suffered poor sales since the campaign began, saying the business community as a whole has always been harmonious and will not be easily affected by divisive movements.

“No such thing as Muslims not frequenting non-Muslim shops. The relationship between the two communities remains good. Our association has members of various ethnic groups.

“Many of my Muslim friends still support non-Muslim businesses, including a Malay friend who buys his stock from a halal food store run by a non-Muslim.” – October 5, 2019.