KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 12 — Popular tech mall Low Yat Plaza that is rumoured to be a meeting point for the “red shirt” rally by Malay groups will reportedly increase security on September 16 when the gathering will be held.

According to Guang Ming Daily, the mall’s management on Thursday issued a notice asking tenants to operate as usual on the day of the rally, adding that it will increase its security personnel on the same day.

Most of the business operators interviewed by the paper said they will follow the mall management’s instructions and open as normal, despite predicting low numbers of customers due to concerns over the rally.

Guang Ming Daily said it is understood that a small number of vendors are opting against opening their stores, while one 27-year-old phone vendor said he will close up at the first sign of trouble.

Low Yat Plaza was the scene of a bloody riot last month when five people were injured, in what was seen as retaliation to what authorities had said were false rumours of Chinese traders conning a Malay customer. The actual events preceding the violence involved a Malay youth nabbed over an alleged phone theft there.

Guang Ming Daily said that malls within shopping haven Bukit Bintang are expected to be operating as usual on the day of the rally.

The management of the Pavillion mall in the same tourist hotspot had a few days ago issued a notice to its tenants to say business operations will go as usual, but had said that the mall will temporarily be shuttered for safety reasons if the situation requires so, the paper said.

The Pavillion management also reminded business operators with outlets facing the Bukit Bintang roads to lock up their main doors on September 16 for security reasons, it reported.

Kenanga Wholesale City mall, located in the Pudu area near Petaling Street, said it will follow suit the traders in the street and pause business operations on September 16.

Another Chinese-language paper, Sin Chew Daily, reported Kuala Lumpur Mayor Datuk Mhd Amin Nordin Abd Aziz as saying that the red-shirt rally organisers’ identity remains unknown and has only been mentioned in news reports, confirming that no one has submitted any applications or requested to meet.

He said the Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) will not approve any of the touted rally meeting points at tourist spots, including private venues like Low Yat Plaza and public spaces or roads.

“Simply put, we will not approve,” he was quoted telling Sin Chew Daily.

Next Wednesday, a rally alternately called Himpunan Maruah Melayu and Himpunan Rakyat Bersatu, will be held in the city centre by Malay groups wearing red shirts to counter the purported Chinese domination of the Bersih 4 rally.

Definite and accurate information on the red-shirt rally on Malaysia Day has been scarce, with initial posters leaving out the name of the organisers and touting meeting points such as Low Yat Plaza, Petaling Street and Bukit Bintang.

Sungai Besar Umno division chief and Coalition of Malay NGOs president Datuk Jamal Md Yunos who has been speaking out on behalf of the rally organisers had even sold red shirts that reads in Bahasa Malaysia: “Malay Dignity Uprising, Padang Merbok, Bukit Bintang, Petaling Street, My Homeland”.

Yesterday, Dang Wangi police confirmed however that it received notice from the September 16 rally organiser — a little-known Malay martial arts organisation called Persekutuan Silat Kebangsaan Malaysia (Pesaka) that is led by Senator Tan Sri Mohd Ali Mohd Rustam.

The notice was for the rally on Malaysia Day to be held at the city’s Padang Merbok, but police said they will wait to see if the venue’s owner, DBKL, approves the use of the field.

Jamal as said that over 750 Malay groups were invited to join the rally on Malaysia Day and claimed that over 30,000 individuals have pledged to show up.