Perkasa to call for KLCC boycott

Ibrahim Ali issues a warning following an allegation that the Suria management discriminates against Malay traders.

KUALA LUMPUR: Perkasa has warned Suria KLCC that it will ask the Malay public to boycott it unless it treats Bumiputera traders fairly.

Perkasa president Ibrahim Ali issued the warning after a camera shop proprietor alleged that Suria’s management was kicking her out of the shopping centre.

Sherifah Salim, who owns a Foto Point outlet, has been trading there for 14 years, according to a press statement.

Apparently, Suria has refused to renew her lease on the ground that her revenue was not good enough. She rejected the claim, saying she had topped the four other camera outlets at the complex, all owned by non-Bumiputeras.

She added that Suria had given additional trading space to various non-Bumiputera stores near hers, but had denied the same benefit to her.

The final straw apparently came when Suria allegedly threatened to raise her rent from RM22,000 to RM45,000 a month if she chose not to leave the premises by Sept 30.

Sherifah said she had been paying her rent on time and her business performance had been one of the best amongst the centre’s camera outlets.

A similar attempt to oust her, she said, took place in 2007, but fizzled out when Suria got bad publicity for allegedly ending the leases of two Bumiputera businesses.

Ibrahim alleged that Suria was practising discrimination not only against Malays, but also women.

“If we are forced to take action, Perkasa can do it,” he told reporters. “We can hand out fliers and have a campaign telling the Malays not to enter KLCC.

“Don’t enter KLCC. Don’t enter and buy anything from KLCC. You can go in, but just do window shopping. If you go to their restaurants, just smell their food.”

The independent MP for Pasir Mas said he regarded KLCC as a national icon and was disappointed with its actions.

He added that few Bumiputeras could rent shops in major shopping centres such as Berjaya Times Square and MidValley Megamall, much less own them.

Perkasa information chief Ruslan Kassim, who was at the press conference, said the Malay rights pressure group had yet to contact Suria over Sherifah’s complaint.