Umno backs ‘boycott’ in spirit of Muslim brotherhood

SM Amin SM Amin Updated 6 years ago · Published on 8 Sep 2019 7:20PM · 14 Comments

Umno Supreme Council member Mohd Razlan Muhammad Rafii says the 'buy Muslim goods' campaign gained traction due to Pakatan's unfriendly attitude towards Muslims. – The Malaysian Insight file pic, September 8, 2019.

UMNO is not the driving force behind the “boycott” of non-Muslim products, but simply lending support to the campaign in the spirit of Muslim brotherhood, said a Supreme Council member.

Mohd Razlan Muhammad Rafii dismissed the Pakatan Harapan government’s claims that the party was behind the push to buy only Muslim goods.

He told The Malaysian Insight that the campaign is being steered “by the people” through Malay civil society group Gerakan Pembela Ummah.

The campaign gained traction among Muslims due to PH’s unfriendly attitude towards the community, he said.

“PH’s actions have made people realise that such movements are necessary to increase the public’s awareness that Malays have to stand united to send a strong message to the government.

“This did not happen overnight, but is a cumulative effect of the government’s actions that are seen as not being helpful to Malay-Muslims.

“The government’s intention to sign ICERD, the opposition to Jawi and the unilateral conversion bill in Selangor have all hurt Malay-Muslims’ sentiments.”

ICERD is the United Nations’ International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination.

The boycott campaign was launched by Ummah and the Malaysian Muslim Consumers’ Association in April, purportedly to spur the economic activities of Muslim entrepreneurs and promote products in the halal market.

Umno Supreme Council member Armand Azha Abu Hanifah says Pakatan leaders and supporters should learn to differentiate between a call to buy Muslim products and a boycott of non-Muslim goods. – The Malaysian Insight file pic, September 8, 2019.

After a few months, it gained traction on social media, especially when the introduction of khat/Jawi for Year Four pupils in vernacular schools and controversial preacher Zakir Naik’s statements were being hotly debated.

Some government leaders have interpreted the campaign as a move to boycott non-Muslim products.

Another Umno Supreme Council member, Armand Azha Abu Hanifah, said ministers should learn to differentiate between a call to buy Muslim products and a boycott of non-Muslim goods.

“The ‘buy Muslim products’ campaign aims to ensure that Bumiputera entrepreneurs and companies are given priority, and it doesn’t call for the boycott of any other products.

“We are only campaigning to ensure that products by Malay-Muslims are given priority. So, ministers and PH supporters, please differentiate… We are only asking people to buy products made by Muslims, not boycott others.”

Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad last week said campaigns against non-Muslim and non-Bumiputera products would only serve to incite anger.

Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng has asked Malay-Muslim parties PAS and Umno to act responsibly and put a stop to the campaign.

PKR president Anwar Ibrahim, meanwhile, said Muslims should promote halal goods, and not launch race-based boycott campaigns.

Umno secretary-general Annual Musa has asked government leaders not to link the party with the so-called “boycott”. – September 8, 2019.

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Comments

  • We, all the Malaysians, want to be your brothers, can?

    Posted 6 years ago by Tanahair Ku · Reply

  • Bodoh punya Umno

    Posted 6 years ago by Penganalisa L · Reply

  • Bodoh punya orang sebab suka membina dinding menyelilingi diri, embargo diri, mengepung diri.

    Posted 6 years ago by Tanahair Ku · Reply

  • Just when UMNO-PAS plan to announce that they will be inclusive, here comes the boycott...really a big joke.

    Posted 6 years ago by Tanahair Ku · Reply

  • If you support, you support la... however you slice it..
    UMNO has deviated from its original principles.. It is not the way forward to progress the country.

    Posted 6 years ago by Kampung Boy · Reply

  • Boycott all non- Muslim products!!!. What next??? Boycott all imported non-Muslim product? Boycott all non-Muslim services? Boycott all non-Muslims? When is this going to end???

    Posted 6 years ago by Sidney Karan · Reply

  • Mic and Mca any protest?Your race is effected

    Posted 6 years ago by Kalai Chelven · Reply

  • Is it similar to breathe "halal" air ?

    Posted 6 years ago by Brik 2020 · Reply

  • Stay calm, Malaysian brothers and sisterz. We r still having long way to go and if we internally also fighting then how can we go further to showcase our peaceful and harmony spirit?

    Posted 6 years ago by Chong Choong Kian · Reply

  • This guy talks like he is representing a minority group in this country that has been left untended. In fact, UMNO has been in charge of the Malay 'agenda' for decades and if he think the Malays are still badly off, then he should look at UMNO and PAS for the reason it may be so. And any party that supports racial discrimination, such as obviously UMNO and PAS, should be packed off by a vote against them, every time.

    Posted 6 years ago by Sunita petrus · Reply

  • Mother effing brotherhood!

    Posted 6 years ago by Watch Dog · Reply

  • Muslim brotherhood? OK lets See what happens when they have to choose their PM candidate. See who will have the last say..PAS or UMNO

    Posted 6 years ago by Elyse Gim · Reply

  • Moron...when companies close down due to poor business...which race loses the most jobs?...these clowns just cannot think straight.

    Posted 6 years ago by Lipdah Lia · Reply

  • If you are not an Icerd signatory,than dont talk about Palestine and Rohinya..
    Almost all muslim country signed it..why cant Malaysia..Pas and Umno please learn from Indon..

    Posted 6 years ago by Kalai Chelven · Reply