PETALING JAYA, June 29 — The clash of traffic with traders and market-goers at Malacca’s Jonker Walk might eventually lead to injury, Tony Pua warned today following the state government’s insistence on reopening the popular street to passing vehicles.

The Petaling Jaya Utara MP labelled Malacca Chief Minister Datuk Idris Haron irresponsible for his “shocking half-reversal” decision in allowing traders to proceed with their business, despite the order to open the road to traffic.

The DAP leader agreed with Umno minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Aziz who yesterday said Jonker Walk was not “Jonker Drive” as it was not possible to allow both humans and vehicles on the congested street without someone getting hurt.

“The above decision is not only a shocking half-reversal, it’s completely irresponsible... all the market traders who are displaying their wares and goods on the road side as well as the tourists and customers will be facing the risk of being knocked down by oncoming traffic,” Pua said in a statement here.

“The new Malacca chief minister must act like a leader and not a petty, cowardly politician,” he added.

“The Malacca state government must immediately withdraw the order to re-open Jonker Walk to traffic during weekend evenings, and not wait for someone to get seriously hurt.”

Idris had last week announced the closure of the Jonker Walk weekend market, a popular 13-year-old tourist destination in an area often referred to as the Chinatown of the southern state.

According to Chinese newspaper Kwong Wah Daily on Monday, Idris, in explaining the closure, had said that decision was made by the state’s executive council on June 12 and it “follows the intention of the people”.

“Now, we see most of the Malacca residents fully supporting DAP over MCA candidates, who have been serving them. Hence, we decided to cancel the night market and we hope they will be happy,” Idris was quoted as saying in the paper, according to Malaysiakini’s report last week.

The chief minister had reportedly pointed out that it was the DAP that had protested against the previous state government’s decision to cordon off the popular street to road users when it was first mooted.

The decision was blasted by opposition lawmakers who described the move as political vengeance against the Chinese community, many among whom had supported Pakatan Rakyat (PR) in Election 2013.

Diving into the fray, Nazri, who is now tourism minister, immediately urged the state to reverse its decision but denied that the move was a racially-charged one.

Instead, the Padang Rengas MP claimed that Idris had informed him that the four-week closure of the Chinese-dominated heritage site was logistic-driven.

Yesterday, several PR MPs, including Pua, led a delegation to Jonker Walk and staged a short protest against the state’s decision.