United front: Lay (second from right) with others during his visit to the shoplots in Kepala Batas in Penang.
KEPALA BATAS: After staying closed for four days, the hardware store in the Jalur Gemilang controversy finally reopened – to slow business.
“Business has been slow compared to before, but there were a few regular customers who came in,” said store manager Jack Tan.
However, he hoped business would pick up soon.
“We were closed from Monday to Thursday and decided to reopen today. Maybe many are unaware that we have reopened,” he said.
Tan said the company had been around for 22 years, moving to the present site in Jalan Datuk Haji Ahmad Badawi some 11 years ago.
“Today, we noticed the police patrolling the area to check, which made us all feel safe,” he said.
“We hope things would go back to normal soon.”
Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow’s special coordinator, Lay Hock Peng, visited the row of shops, including the hardware store, yesterday.
“I went around 10am to check if business was running smoothly and to speak to all the stores which had to close early due to the rally on Thursday.
“The store owner was not present. For now, we are not sure whether there would be any charges filed against him. We will let the police handle that,” he said.
On Thursday, an Umno Youth-led gathering was held outside the hardware shop and all 10 shop operators along the stretch had to close as early as noon at the police’s advice.
The gathering was called after hardware shop owner Pang Chin Tian, 59, was filmed holding a pole with an inverted national flag.
He was arrested following accusations of improperly displaying the flag and has since been released on police bail.
Inspector-General of Police Datuk Seri Mohd Khalid Ismail had earlier said that investigations were ongoing, with 38 police reports lodged nationwide – 17 in Penang and 21 in other states.
