KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 14 – About 500 shopkeepers and 773 traders in Petaling Street have decided to close their business on Sept 16 due to the proposed Peoples’ Unity Gathering, here, for safety reasons. Kuala Lumpur Hawkers and Petty Traders Association chairman Datuk Ang Say Tee said the decision was to made after the discussions with several Non-Governmental Organisations (NGO) on Sept 5.
“As many as 90 percent of the traders here have decided to close of business on that day to ensure their safety and also to prevent any untoward incidents happen,” he told reporters at a Walk About programme jointly organised by NGO, community heads and traders in Petaling Street on Sunday.
He also hoped that the organizers cancel the rally because many businesses in the area would be affected as they would be forced to close for the whole day. He said the gathering was a racist in nature with Malaysia Day which should be celebrated with the spirit of patriotism among the various races.
Over 50 representatives from 20 NGOs participated in the program to mingle with traders and residents in the area. The program was also attended by Pro-Rakyat president Khairul Anwar Othman, Bukit Bintang MP Fong Kui Lun and several NGOs including Otai Reformers, Ummah Welfare Association Malaysia (SMA), Orange 13, and Caring Society of Selangor.
Khairul said 2,000 members of Pro-Rakyat and 500 members of Otai Reformis would camp in areas including Petaling Street and Bukit Bintang from morning to midnight on the day in question. He said as a Muslims, also Malays and Malaysians, they wish to give our assurance that we will not allow the people of Malaysia, regardless of race, to be harmed.
The Peoples’ Unity Gathering or more well-known has been planned on Sept 16 in the national capital. Malaysian National Silat Federation (Pesaka) president Tan Sri Mohd Ali Rustam on Saturday said Pesaka would hold the gathering in Padang Merbok if permitted by the Kuala Lumpur City Hall and not in Bukit Bintang or Petaling Street.
