KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 18 — Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob lashed out at critics of his proposed “Low Yat 2” for Bumiputera traders today, particularly allies MCA, and told them to comprehend the roles of government agencies.

The rural and regional development minister argued that Majlis Amanah Rakyat's (MARA) function was to prioritise Malay and Bumiputera development, which he said was in line with his proposal for a gadget mall exclusively for the dominant community.

The minister also reminded MCA of its role as a Barisan Nasional (BN) component, telling the Chinese party that turning his suggestion into a racial issue was straining ethnic relations in the country.

“They need to do their homework. What was the reason MARA was established? It was established to aid in developing Malay and Bumiputera entrepreneurs,” he said today at the Orang Asli Affairs Department (Jakoa) office here.

“If they get angry, questioning issues about other races, then it is not about MARA anymore,” he added.

His response comes after MCA president Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said that the proposal of the Bumiputera-only tech mall will affect race relations in the country.

Other MCA members have also criticised the proposal including publicity bureau chairman Datuk Chai Kim Sen and MCA vice-president Senator Datin Paduka Chew Mei Fun.

Ismail Sabri today also questioned MCA’s decision to criticise a member of the BN coalition, saying that its behaviour made it appear to be an opposition party.

“They should understand their role as a component of Barisan Nasional. They do not have to act as DAP. Let DAP as the opposition to attack us,” he said.

The minister further added that the proposed tech centre would not limit traders from purchasing stock only from Bumiputera suppliers.

He said that MARA may set up a company to handle supplies to assist its traders in keeping costs low, but will not prohibit them from seeking other suppliers of other races.

“We will also try to find a big brand to act as an anchor for the centre. Perhaps a company like Apple or Samsung and so on. This means we are not opening this centre simply for the sake of opening it. We will only open it when it is ready with the necessary things like suppliers and an anchor,” he said.

“The people attacking (this proposal) are narrow-minded,” he added.

Ismail Sabri said that MARA will present its proposal tomorrow in the post-Cabinet meeting to come up with further suggestions on establishing the centre.

He stressed, however, that the name would not be “Low Yat 2”, explaining that the name was only used as reference to the type of mall he was proposing.

“I want to announce that the name of the centre would be open to the public to decide on through an open competition. But definitely not ‘Low Yat’,” he said.

The tech centre was recently proposed by Ismail Sabri to be established at the MARA building in Kuala Lumpur where it would only house Bumiputera traders.

The suggestion came following a riot which erupted outside Low Yat Plaza earlier in July, after a 22-year-old man was reportedly handed to the police for allegedly stealing a mobile phone, after which his accomplice contacted their friends who then assaulted workers from a mobile phone store and caused an estimated RM70,000 in damages.