Malay traders should be allowed to do business on Petaling Street so that the place would not be perceived as being 'racist', said Sungai Besar Umno division chief Jamal Md Yunos.

He concluded that after yesterday's scuffle between the red shirts and the police outside the iconic shopping street, it is time for the Chinese to "share" what was theirs.

"Ten years ago, I applied for a spot in Petaling Street but it was not granted.

“It is better for the authorities and City Hall not to be racist. This is what we call 'racist', as all the traders are Chinese. What's wrong with adding a few Malay traders?

"We said we need to share. But they (Chinese) don't want to. Only we share ours," he told a press conference in Kuala Lumpur today.

Jamal put the blame on Opposition-linked group 'Otai Reformis', which he named as responsible in provoking the red shirts through their statements and signs posted in front of Petaling Street banning the red shirts from entering the area.

No action against Petaling Street traders

Although claiming the rowdy protesters are not from his group, Jamal promised them he will help them by asking the government to 'clean up' Petaling Street, which he said sell counterfeit and illegal items.

"They told me they went to Petaling Street which has been running illegal trading for years and they told me that the traders are not Malaysian but foreigners.

“The stalls are given to Nepalese, Bangladeshis, and everyone else and because of that, I promised to help.

"Today, I will go to meet KDN (the Home Ministry) and ask them and other agencies to take action against the illegal traders.

"The protesters also questioned that in the Malay areas, the government took action against illegal traders but we see Petaling Street is still invincible," he said.

Abdul Rani Kulup Abdullah of Martabat Jalinan Muhibbah Malaysia also lodged a police report today, asking the police to investigate a video by 'Otai Reformis' ( photo ) that forbade red shirt rally participants from entering Petaling Street, saying they will defend it from the protesters.

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