KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 26 — Despite the racist, anti-Chinese messages hurled last week during the #Merah169 rally and a recent warning that a possible riot may occur today, the mostly ethnic-Chinese traders at Petaling Street are not convinced that a race war with the Malays is on the cards.
Instead, business owners at the popular tourist hotspot known as “Chinatown” said they believe the only few troublemakers from the community are Sungai Besar Umno chief Datuk Jamal Md Yunos and his gang of supporters, who they accused of starting the ruckus during #Merah169.
One trader, Peter Hew, told Malay Mail Online yesterday that many visitors and customers in Chinatown are the Malays.
“A lot of Malays buy from us as well,” the clothes peddler for over 30 years said when met at his stall on the busy street.
“Most of my customers searching for imitation goods are Malays,” he pointed out.
‘Malays used to operate in Chinatown’
Some of the older traders who have been operating in Chinatown for even longer said it was “preposterous” for the red shirts to demand half the business space in the street.
One trader pointed out that the Malays had in the past owned licenses to operate their businesses from Chinatown but sold these off when they could not turn sufficient profit.
“The Malays had business here back then when I started 50 years ago but they couldn’t maintain it. They sold the licenses back to the Chinese traders.
“After all that, they want to come and demand back now for their right? This is nonsense,” a 70-year-old garment trader told Malay Mail Online.
Sixty-two-year-old curry noodles seller Low Yoke Chan said it was likely that Jamal and his followers only wanted space in Chinatown for Malay entrepreneurs because they could see how successful the tourist shopping haven has become.
“There were a lot of Malays (before), they didn’t want to take the license up. We took the license instead to do business since we were expanding. Now they want to stake their claim.
“It’s like piece of land that nobody wants to cultivate. But now when the land is prospering, everybody wants a piece of it,” she said with a grin, citing an old Chinese proverb.
‘Afraid? No, we are angry’
The traders, convinced that it was Jamal’s group at fault for stirring racial tensions, also said they were neither afraid of the man nor his warnings and threats.
“How long we want to be afraid? Enough is enough. If you have crossed the line, we will get mad. We also have our limits,” a garment trader who wanted to be known as “Gemuk Jeans” told Malay Mail Online.
“We have already made a police report, there is nothing to be afraid of. Even the market aunty is not afraid anymore.
“We are not going to give way twice... if there is a second time, there will be a third as well. Things will just get worse,” third-generation soya bean drink seller Ng Lee Yam said.
“It’s not to say the Chinese are afraid, we are just being smart. We don’t want to stoop to their (Jamal) levels,” a bag trader who wished to remain anonymous said.
On Wednesday, Jamal was quoted in the media as saying that the authorities’ failure to take action on Petaling Street traders for allegedly selling fake goods will inevitably force “red shirt” protesters to return today and possibly “riot”.
Rally cancelled, organiser says
Yesterday, however, the rumoured gathering that was to take place in Chinatown was cancelled by Mohd Ali Baharom, who had proclaimed himself the organiser.
According to the Malay Armed Forces Veterans’ Association president popularly known as “Ali Tinju”, the rally was called off on advice from the authorities, and to allow more time for the government to respond to demands for more Malay business space in Chinatown.
During the September 16 #Merah169 rally, protesters tried to breach a police barricade blocking off entry into Petaling Street in a bid to reach the area known as Chinatown that Jamal later claimed was Chinese-dominated and prejudicial against Malays.
The incident forced the police to use water cannons to disperse the crowd that lingered on despite the use of force.
The protesters dispersed only when Jamal came and promised them that he would press the Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Ministry to take action against Petaling Street traders for selling counterfeits and, according to him, pornographic material.
Late last night, Jamal was hauled in for questioning over his riot warning and was subsequently arrested under Section 105 of the Criminal Procedure Code.
Following news that Jamal was called for questioning, Kuala Lumpur Hawkers and Petty Traders Association Datuk Ang Say Tee said that traders in Chinatown would not close today as previously suggested.
He told Malay Mail Online that there was no longer any need to fear Jamal’s riot threat as the police would be on standby to maintain peace and public order.
