'RACIST' & NOW LIAR TOO? Police will probe Ismail Sabri if Liow files report on'false' joint statement

The police will investigate the controversy surrounding a joint press statement if MCA president Liow Tiong Lai lodges a report against Umno minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob.

Commenting on the issue, Inspector-General of Police Khalid Abu Bakar said: "We will definitely investigate if a report is lodged."

"As I have mentioned before, we investigate all reports including those filed against those in the ruling party," he told Malaysiakini.

This afternoon, Ismail posted a clarification on Facebook regarding his earlier controversial remark about Chinese traders. He claimed that it was a joint statement with Liow.

However, the MCA president denied this within 30 minutes.

This prompted DAP lawmaker Lim Lip Eng to urge Liow, who is transport minister, to file a police report, saying that Ismail should be investigated under the Penal Code.

'Serious offence'

Meanwhile, Khalid agreed that the allegation of "falsification" as raised by Lim was serious because it concerned two federal ministers.

However, the police chief also noted that it could have been a misunderstanding between the ministers.

"So if it is just a misunderstanding and the two decide to sort out the issue between themselves without lodging a police report, then there is nothing we can do," he added.

Ismail, who is agriculture and agro-based industries minister, is currently being investigated under Section 505 (b) of the Penal Code for issuing a statement that could cause "fear or alarm to the public".

What's Ismail's next move?

This was over his earlier Facebook posting where the minister called on Malays to boycott Chinese businesses who do not reduce the prices of goods.

The Prime Minister's Office later defended him claiming that his remark was aimed at all errant traders, which put MCA in a spot.

The police, on the other hand, decided to push ahead with its probe and recorded the minister's statement this week.

Under pressure, MCA has continued to demand for an apology, with its Youth chief Chong Sin Woon claiming earlier that Ismail was not fit to be a minister.

Following this, the cabinet ordered Ismail to issue a statement to explain himself. - M'kini