Many in Petaling Street may close shop tomorrow amid talk of another rally

Business as usual: Shoppers are still thronging Petaling Street.

PETALING JAYA: Petaling Street may be deserted tomorrow over fears of a riot threatened by the organiser of the red shirt protesters.

Kuala Lumpur Hawkers and Petty Traders Association chairman Datuk Ang Say Tee said about 400 of the 773 traders were afraid that there would be chaos like what happened on Sept 16 when the red shirt rally took place.

“Members have been calling and asking if they should close on Saturday. They fear that business will be disrupted.

“I have advised them to lodge police reports. We are afraid because we are doing business,” said Ang.

He said if it was true that counterfeit or fake items were sold, it was not up to the red shirt protesters to take action against traders but the duty of other authorities.

“If we are in the wrong, then City Hall, the police or the Domestic, Trade, Cooperatives and Consum­erism Ministry should take action against us, not them,” said Ang.

Sungai Besar Umno chief Datuk Jamal Md Yunos had threatened “another commotion” at Petaling Street tomorrow if the demands of the red shirt protesters were not met.

Among the group’s demands was that the ministry should act against the alleged sale of counterfeit goods in Petaling Street and that the traders should share a portion of their income with other races and stop the monopoly in the area.

He said that if authorities did not take action, then another gathering would take place, adding that a riot could even happen.

Jamal said he was acting as an intermediary between the red shirt group and the authorities.

 

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