Liew denies DAP asked Kluang traders to move 10 years ago

DAP has no influence, so why should Kluang council listen to us when they even ban us from using any public space for activities, says Kluang MP.

PETALING JAYA: Liew Chin Tong has denied claims by Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, Razali Ibrahim that DAP had asked for Kluang bazaar traders to move to another location 10 years ago.

Referring to a report on FMT earlier today, where Razali blamed the opposition party for having been the source of frustration of some traders in the Kluang Ramadan Bazaar, which resulted in a minor altercation on Saturday, Liew said the allegations were not true.

“In 2007, the opposition party did not have any state assemblyman in that area or in Johor, for that matter.

“We did not try to evict anyone, as it was not in our authority to do any such thing. The DAP never asked for them to move, and I have even asked around and confirmed this matter,” Liew said in response to Razali’s accusations.

At a buka puasa event yesterday, Razali, who is an Umno supreme council member, told reporters that it all started in 2007 when DAP had asked the traders in Kluang to shut down their business and move elsewhere.

“It is still in their (traders’) minds. That is why this happened in Kluang and not elsewhere.

“We cannot blame anyone. But if we provoke someone, then surely there will be a reaction,” he had said.

However, Liew said it was a flimsy excuse to divert the attention of the public, accusing the Muar MP of “condoning violence”.

“Furthermore, the Kluang council does not consult us, let alone listen to us. They have even banned us from using any public space for our activities.

“So why should the council take orders or listen to us or ever take our views,” Liew said in dismissing any possibility that they could have an influence with the town’s authorities.

In the incident last Saturday, Liew and fellow Pakatan Harapan leaders were stopped from distributing dates at a Ramadan bazaar in Liew’s constituency.

In a two-minute video posted on Facebook, a group of youngsters were seen shouting and making intimidating gestures while attempting to stop Liew and DAP’s state assistant publicity secretary Sheikh Umar Bagharib Ali from going into a certain part of the bazaar.

Both men and Kluang PPBM head Radzali Mohd Noor later lodged police reports.

Police have arrested two men for disturbing the peace at the Kluang Ramadan bazaar.

The investigations are being conducted under Section 324 of the Penal Code for causing hurt and Section 506 for criminal intimidation. -FMT