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1 Low Yat Plaza: Revenge attack by suspected shoplifters?
2 Raiding Low Yat Plaza
3 The PM, Najib Razak, on the Low Yat incident and consequent riot.
4 Shahrul Anuar Abdul Aziz, man at the centre of Low Yat Plaza incident: Pleads not guilty to theft
5 Arrested: Mohd Ali (‘Ali Tinju’), seen making offensive racial remarks on video relating to Low Yat Plaza incident
6 Low Yat Plaza Incident: Bagan Umno Youth chief Dr Shaik Hussein Mydin is detained
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Free Malaysia Today
Malays told to boycott Raya do at Low Yat
Don’t allow yourselves to be bought by the organisers, says Ridhuan Tee.
PETALING JAYA: Sinar Harian columnist and Muslim preacher Ridhuan Tee has questioned the sincerity of those organising a Hari Raya celebration at Low Yat Plaza, the scene of rioting three weekends ago.
In his latest article for the paper, Tee said it was strange that non-Muslims would host a Muslim religious celebration. “It has nothing to do with them,” he said without mentioning MCA, which has said it would host the event.
“I’m not saying that it is wrong, but it is certainly strange.”
He said he suspected a selfish motive, a fear of a reduction in business at the Chinese-dominated mall as a result of the incident on July 11 and 12.
“As far as I’m concerned, there’s no need to celebrate Hari Raya there,” he said.
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He urged Malays “not to allow themselves to be bought” by the organisers of the event.
“It is so obvious that they have been targeting the Malays as their source for making as much money as possible,” he said. “This is the consequence of the Malays’ reluctance to be producers instead of consumers.”
He alleged that cheating was rampant among traders at Low Yat. “Many of my colleagues have been cheated there. Sometimes the cost of repairing an appliance there exceeds the sale price.”
He urged the Malays to boycott the businesses at Low Yat and to shun the Hari Raya event. “It would be a pity indeed if it turned out that you could be bought over with a glass of syrup,” he said.
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malaysiakini: Low Yat says Raya–do with MCA ‘unverified’ http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/305737 liowtionglai
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Plaza Low Yat today described a proposed Hari Raya open house with MCA at its premises as “unverified” information.
“Pertaining to the recent message circulated around social media, chat apps and online news regarding the rumour Hari Raya open house organised by Plaza Low Yat in collaboration with MCA…
“We would like to clarify that it is unproven and not verified by the management of Plaza Low Yat,” said Plaza Low Yat communications officer Gary Lam in a statement today.
Lam urged the public to ignore messages about the Hari Raya open house and not to cause further confusion by circulating them.
“We will definitely circulate the accurate official statements once we have final confirmation on any details,” he said.
Lam said this in reference to reports that MCA president Liow Tiong Lai will propose to the Federal Territories Ministry to hold a Hari Raya open house at Low Yat Plaza to help its business recover.
http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/305737
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Sunday July 19, 2015 MYT 12:48:50 PM
Move to have Raya do at Low Yat
KUALA LUMPUR: Sales at Low Yat Plaza have plunged by almost half following the theft-turned-brawl last weekend and MCA has plans to revive the public’s sense of security in the mall.
MCA president Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said the party would discuss with the Federal Territo- ries Ministry to hold a Hari Raya gathering in the mall which is popular for smartphones and IT gadgets.
Retailers there claimed that there was a 40% to 50% drop in sales after a theft of a handphone turned into a brawl last weekend, he said.
To bring the customers back, he said MCA and the Low Yat Plaza management planned to organise a Raya gathering at the mall.
“We would like to assist in whatever way possible to bring the situation back to normal. There has been no disturbances but business has been down by 40% to 50%.
“The Federal Territory MCA would like to propose a Hari Raya celebration in Low Yat Plaza by early August to bring back the harmony here,” he said during a visit to the plaza on Friday.
He was accompanied by MCA Youth chief Chong Sin Woon.
The proposal, said Liow, had to be further discussed with the Federal Territories Ministry and the Low Yat management.
Liow urged everyone to maintain harmony among the various ethnic groups and not allow racism to rear its ugly head.
“All of us are here to ensure the safety, harmony and unity of the people in this country. We should not allow a small group of people to create a chaotic situation at any place – in Low Yat or even Kuala Lumpur,” he said.
http://www.thestar.com.my/News/Nation/2015/07/19/Move-to-have-Raya-do-at-Low-Yat/
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Inflammatory postings on social media, distrust among ethnic groups to blame
Why did #Malaysia‘s Low Yat plaza theft case turn into a racial brawl? http://bit.ly/1Mi74BC
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On Facebook, Twitter and other social media platforms, incendiary postings about how this was an example of Chinese traders profiteering by cheating Malays, and of videos of violence by members of one race against the other, spread like wildfire.
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With half of the country’s population on Facebook – according to studies which rank Malaysia as one of Asia’s top 10 countries on the platform – the often graphic images were like fuel to fire. Things quickly escalated, climaxing in last Sunday’s late-night mob of about 200 who injured at least five people, including three journalists, and attacked a car and its three occupants, badly damaging the vehicle that happened to be in the vicinity. ”One gang of Malays… opened my car (door) when I drove past them and asked whether I am Chinese,” the driver of the car, Mr Patrick Lim, recounted to The Malay Mail Online news website.
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In explaining the incident, opinion pollster Merdeka Centre’s chief Ibrahim Suffian said the relationship that the majority of Malaysians have with other races is mainly ”transactional” and not deep social bonds.
”From previous polling we’ve done, we note that stereotypes and prejudices are still strong underneath the layer of civility,” he told The Sunday Times, adding that decades of living as a nation have failed to erase ethnic distrust.
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A leader of last Sunday’s mob claimed to be from pro-Malay group Pekida, whose president has disclaimed responsibility, admitting only that some members could have participated of their own will.
But the term ”Pekida” has taken a life of its own outside the organisation’s official status as a Muslim welfare body. It has become a catch-all label, used by both supporters and critics, for pro-Malay activists who are not averse to using physical tactics.
The group was set up in the aftermath of the deadly May 13, 1969 riots, which saw bloody clashes between Malays and Chinese after the ruling coalition led by the Malay-based Umno suffered unprecedented losses in a general election. It has come into wider prominence after the 2008 polls where Umno, which has controlled the government since independence in 1957, performed even worse than in 1969.
French political anthropologist Sophie Lemiere, who has done extensive work on pro-Malay activism and its links to Umno, wrote in the wake of the Low Yat incident about ”the ambiguous nature of Pekida, its link to the political arena, the service rendered to Umno during political campaigns and the potential violence of its members”.
Given the perceived wealth of the Chinese, young Malays in Pekida ”switch from NGO (non-governmental organisation) activism to political action and violence” easily, ”empowered by a quasi-sacred mission to protect their own, and to restore justice at any cost”, she said.
It hardly helps that in 2013, Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi proclaimed Pekida friends of Umno, despite police revealing the organisation’s part in secret society activities.
Little wonder then that Shahrul Anuar and his accomplice – chalking up between them the dubious honours of being unemployed, charged with theft and testing positive for drugs, according to police, and being allegedly involved in assault and causing damage to property – are seen by some people as martyrs, if not heroes.
– See more at: http://www.straitstimes.com/asia/se-asia/why-theft-case-escalated-to-race-brawl#sthash.yNq54ai0.dpuf
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Star
Sunday July 19, 2015 MYT 7:33:27 AM
Move to have Raya do at Low Yat
KUALA LUMPUR: Sales at Low Yat Plaza have plunged by almost half following the theft-turned-brawl last weekend and MCA has plans to revive the public’s sense of security in the mall.
MCA president Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said the party would discuss with the Federal Territo- ries Ministry to hold a Hari Raya gathering in the mall which is popular for smartphones and IT gadgets.
Retailers there claimed that there was a 40% to 50% drop in sales after a theft of a handphone turned into a brawl last weekend, he said.
To bring the customers back, he said MCA and the Low Yat Plaza management planned to organise a Raya gathering at the mall.
“We would like to assist in whatever way possible to bring the situation back to normal. There has been no disturbances but business has been down by 40% to 50%.
“The Federal Territory MCA would like to propose a Hari Raya celebration in Low Yat Plaza by early August to bring back the harmony here,” he said during a visit to the plaza on Friday.
He was accompanied by MCA Youth chief Chong Sin Woon.
The proposal, said Liow, had to be further discussed with the Federal Territories Ministry and the Low Yat management.
http://www.thestar.com.my/News/Nation/2015/07/19/Move-to-have-Raya-do-at-Low-Yat/
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Star
Sunday July 19, 2015 MYT 7:37:05 AM
Shoppers of all races head to Low Yat Plaza
KUALA LUMPUR: The fracas at Low Yat Plaza appeared to be a mere blip on the radar, as Malaysians came together at open houses and malls for their favourite pastimes – eating and shopping – during Hari Raya.
Yesterday, the tech mall hardly looked like the place where a brawl took place a week ago and the mood was in stark contrast to the tense atmosphere then with shoppers chatting and haggling with traders as they checked out the latest phones and gadgets.
There were also many Malay shoppers, clad in their bright coloured baju Melayu and baju kurung at the mall although the number of visitors were fewer than on an average day.
Traders, however, said the reason could be because most people had gone back to their hometowns to celebrate the festive season.
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It was also business as usual yesterday evening, even after rumours were spread that there would be a gathering of non-governmental organisations in front of the mall, prompting an increased police presence in front of the building.
Inspector-General of Police secretariat’s assistant head (corporate communications) Asst Comm Datin Asmawati Ahmad said police tightened security to prevent any untoward incidents.
“We will continue to beef up security for the good of the public,” she said.
Police also set up several checkpoints along Jalan Bulan, Jalan Imbi and Jalan Bukit Bintang.
http://www.thestar.com.my/News/Nation/2015/07/19/Shoppers-of-all-races-head-to-Low-Yat-Plaza/
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Situation calm at Low Yat despite rumours of NGO gathering today https://shar.es/1sv6fH
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Cops in Kuala Lumpur on high alert at Low Yat Plaza after rumours of unrest http://tdy.sg/1Iae6I4
Police trucks seen on standby near the Federal Hotel, adjacent to Low Yat Plaza, in Kuala Lumpur today (July 18, 2015). Photo: The Malaysian Insider
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KUALA LUMPUR — Police ramped up security around Low Yat Plaza today (July 18) following rumours that certain groups were planning to create a ruckus in the area, following last Sunday’s brawl.
Police chief Assistant Commissioner Zainol Samah said the news had been circulating that these groups were out to create unrest in the area and that had forced police to step up security.
Police presence at the plaza was heavy since this afternoon, with officers patrolling the area and putting up roadblocks at the roads leading to the mall.
The rumours are believed to be started by supporters of blogger Papagomo who was arrested several days ago for posting false information about a theft at one of the shops in Low Yat Plaza. It called on supporters of Pekida and Perkasa to gather at Low Yat with weapons in order to voice their displeasure towards the inspector-general of police for apparently siding with the Chinese.
“There is nothing so far. We have beefed up security here because of the rumours,” Mr Zainol said. There was also a Light Strike Force truck stationed about 50m from the mall.
http://www.todayonline.com/world/asia/cops-high-alert-low-yat-after-rumours-unrest
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Police standby after Low Yat rumours by Papagomo group: Security stepped up at Low Yat Plaza but ‘nothing so f… http://bit.ly/1fT9QAd
Free Malaysia Today
Police standby after Low Yat rumours by Papagomo group
KUALA LUMPUR: Police stepped up security around Low Yat Plaza today but all was quiet despite word of plans to create trouble being spread, apparently by supporters of controversial blogger Papagomo.
Police made their presence felt with patrols and road-blocks on the streets leading up to the shopping centre. “There is nothing so far. We have beefed up security here because of the rumours,” said Dang Wangi district police chief Zainol Samah, quoted by Malaysian Insider.
A Light Strike Force truck was stationed near the plaza.
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Situation calm at Low Yat Plaza as police keep watchful eye http://fw.to/atWAlwI
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People still flocking to Low Yat Plaza for gadgets http://dlvr.it/BYwGmM #socialmedia
KUALA LUMPUR, July 18, 2015:
Mohd Salehuddin Sulaiman, Nurul Nadia Salleh and Mohd Ibrahim Yahya feel safe at Low Yat Plaza despite social media allegations of a racial clash there last weekend.
The three were at the plaza, popular for mobile phones, computers and computer software, on the second day of Aidilfitri today, pondering what mobile phone to buy with their ‘duit raya’.
Mohd Ibrahim even brought his wife and a son along as well.
Bernama was able to talk to these three people among the many other Malays, most of them youths, who had come to spend the second day of Aidilfitri on a shopping spree at the plaza.
They did not wish to let slip the Aidilfitri promotions, particularly for laptop computers and mobile phones.
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Although the plaza was not as crowded as before, the Aidilfitri spirit was there all the same, with decorative lamps and ‘ketupat’ inside and outside the plaza.
The fewer visitors could also be due to the possibility that many city folks had returned to their villages and towns for the Aidilfitri or to spend their holidays.
A trader who wished to remain anonymous said the Aidilfitri sale had not been as brisk as expected, but he was grateful that the situation was calm.
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1 Low Yat Plaza: Revenge attack by suspected shoplifters?
2 Raiding Low Yat Plaza
3 The PM, Najib Razak, on the Low Yat incident and consequent riot.
4 Shahrul Anuar Abdul Aziz, man at the centre of Low Yat Plaza incident: Pleads not guilty to theft
5 Arrested: Mohd Ali (‘Ali Tinju’), seen making offensive racial remarks on video relating to Low Yat Plaza incident
6 Low Yat Plaza Incident: Bagan Umno Youth chief Dr Shaik Hussein Mydin is detained
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