A group of NGOs comprising small business associations want Kuala Lumpur Mayor Ahmad Phesal Talib to scrap a RM12 million plan to develop a world class hub for Chinese food on Jalan Alor in Bukit Bintang.
They questioned why the federal government has given funds to a DAP ward when the majority of Malay voters who backed the BN in the last general election also have pressing development needs.
"What are the privileges for the Malays in Kuala Lumpur?" asked Pertubuhan Ikatan Usahawan Kecil dan Sederhana Malaysia (Ikhlas) president Mohd Ridzuan Abdullah (on the right) in making the call for the Chinese food hub to be scrapped.
"(Malay) NGOs have helped the government day and night, but the RM12 million project is given to the DAP," Ridzuan said.
The group claimed that small Malay businesses located in and around Kuala Lumpur, especially in Little India in Brickfields and on Petaling Street in the city centre, were not given the same attention.
Ridzuan charged that Ahmad Phesal had "conspired" with the opposition for the Jalan Alor project.
"The Malay businesses are still undeveloped... mayor, please look in the mirror first," Ridzuan said, adding that he was not a racist.
He said Ikhlas represented three other NGOs on the matter and gave Ahmad Phesal two weeks to respond to their demands, failing which they would hold mass protests in the area.
"In Malaysia, there are three types of NGOs. First, the educated NGOs, the second is those still learning and thirdly, the rude NGOs. Don't force us to be rude," Ridzuan said after handing over a memorandum of protest to City Hall.
The other NGOs backing Ikhlas in wanting the food hub scrapped are Persatuan Penjaja dan Peniaga (Kajang), Ikatan Rakyat Insan Muslim Malaysia (IRIMM) dan Muafakat Jalinan Muhibah Malaysia (MJMM).
They questioned why the federal government has given funds to a DAP ward when the majority of Malay voters who backed the BN in the last general election also have pressing development needs.
"What are the privileges for the Malays in Kuala Lumpur?" asked Pertubuhan Ikatan Usahawan Kecil dan Sederhana Malaysia (Ikhlas) president Mohd Ridzuan Abdullah (on the right) in making the call for the Chinese food hub to be scrapped."(Malay) NGOs have helped the government day and night, but the RM12 million project is given to the DAP," Ridzuan said.
The group claimed that small Malay businesses located in and around Kuala Lumpur, especially in Little India in Brickfields and on Petaling Street in the city centre, were not given the same attention.
Ridzuan charged that Ahmad Phesal had "conspired" with the opposition for the Jalan Alor project.
"The Malay businesses are still undeveloped... mayor, please look in the mirror first," Ridzuan said, adding that he was not a racist.
He said Ikhlas represented three other NGOs on the matter and gave Ahmad Phesal two weeks to respond to their demands, failing which they would hold mass protests in the area.
"In Malaysia, there are three types of NGOs. First, the educated NGOs, the second is those still learning and thirdly, the rude NGOs. Don't force us to be rude," Ridzuan said after handing over a memorandum of protest to City Hall.
The other NGOs backing Ikhlas in wanting the food hub scrapped are Persatuan Penjaja dan Peniaga (Kajang), Ikatan Rakyat Insan Muslim Malaysia (IRIMM) dan Muafakat Jalinan Muhibah Malaysia (MJMM).
They also urged the mayor’s resignation if he fails to meet their demands.
'Projects would lead to rise in social ills'
In the memorandum, Mohd Ridzuan also expressed concern that projects that purportedly benefit only one race and the upgrading of such projects would lead to a rise in social ills and crime.
“Ikhlas would fully support similar projects to allocated equally to other races especially the Malays,” the memo said.
The memorandum was handed over to DBKL director-general’s special officer Shahlan Ambroz Zainuddin in front of the City Hall’s headquarters at about 3.30pm today. Mohd Ridzuan was leading a delegation of about 25 to hand over the memorandum.
Before that, they held up banners that said ‘Mayor, what’s this with the international standard Chinese food hub’, ‘The Mayor works with DAP’, and ‘Resign DBKL Mayor!’
They also shouted “Back down Mayor”, “Resign”, and “Long live the Malays”.
Ahmad had previously announced the ‘Jalan Alor Night Food Paradise’ project for the tourist attraction in July, which among others would include improvements to the furniture, waste disposal and water system.
The project is due to start in October and is to be completed in about 11 months.
In the memorandum, Mohd Ridzuan also expressed concern that projects that purportedly benefit only one race and the upgrading of such projects would lead to a rise in social ills and crime.
“Ikhlas would fully support similar projects to allocated equally to other races especially the Malays,” the memo said.
The memorandum was handed over to DBKL director-general’s special officer Shahlan Ambroz Zainuddin in front of the City Hall’s headquarters at about 3.30pm today. Mohd Ridzuan was leading a delegation of about 25 to hand over the memorandum.
Before that, they held up banners that said ‘Mayor, what’s this with the international standard Chinese food hub’, ‘The Mayor works with DAP’, and ‘Resign DBKL Mayor!’
They also shouted “Back down Mayor”, “Resign”, and “Long live the Malays”.
Ahmad had previously announced the ‘Jalan Alor Night Food Paradise’ project for the tourist attraction in July, which among others would include improvements to the furniture, waste disposal and water system.
The project is due to start in October and is to be completed in about 11 months.
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