Many businesses forced to close for the day

KUALA LUMPUR: Safety concerns and closure of roads around Dat­aran Merdeka have forced many businesses in the surrounding area to close for the day.

M Curry House, which is one of the restaurants closest to Dataran Merdeka, will be closed today.

Its owner B. Siva said he made the decision to avoid any issues regarding the safety of its workers and patrons.

“As many of the other businesses in this building will be closed, we chose to close for the day as well,” he said, adding that the restaurant would be open tomorrow.

Kuala Lumpur City Gallery, a popular tourist attraction near Dataran Merdeka, will also be closed for the day.

Felicia Beh, an employee at the gallery, said the road closures due to the rally were the main reasonfor the closure of the gallery.

“We are usually open on Satur­days, but we expect that there will be lots of road closures and roadblocks, so the management decided to close the gallery for a day," said Beh.

At the usually busy intersection of Lorong Tuanku Abdul Rahman and Jalan Tun Perak, there was mixed reaction to the anti-Icerd rally.

Alfaro Sdn Bhd manager Sulai­man Razak said he would not open the shop, which sells hijabs and clothes for Muslim women, if the crowd for the rally was too big.

“If we close shop it might affect sales, but if we open when the crowd is too big it might be a safety hazard,” said Sulaiman.

Restoran President Curry House owner Jamal Mohamad said the restaurant would be open as usual today.

Meanwhile, some vendors were selling anti-Icerd T-shirts and other merchandise after Friday prayers outside the National Mosque and Masjid Jamek.