THE movement to boycott non-Bumiputera products will damage the economy and bring about enmity among the people.

Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Minister Salahuddin Ayub said even though Muslim consumers have to consume halal food, boycotting non-Bumiputera goods was not the best way forward.

“Recently, there has been a campaign propagated by some parties to boycott non-Bumiputera products.  

“I want to say tonight that Muslims need halal food products but we cannot boycott (non-Bumiputera goods). This is wrong… it should not have happened,” he said when opening the 2019 Mooncake Festival Carnival organised by the Johor Baru Qiong Min Khek Chow Yek Cultural Association in Johor Baru last night.   

It was reported that a campaign had been launched on social media by a group to boycott non-Bumiputera products and to encourage Malaysians to buy only Bumiputera goods.

Salahuddin, who is also Pulai MP, said Muslim consumers should not think in this way and should consider the effects of the boycott on the country and its people.

“As the minister (of agriculture and agro-based industry), I always encourage people to plant fruits and vegetables. There are Chinese planting durians, there are also Malays planting durians. There are also Indians planting vegetables and some Indians have big farms breeding cows and goats as well.

“There will be no winners if each race started boycotting each other’s products. What would happen to the country then?” – Bernama, September 14, 2019.