Shahbudin: Red Shirts bent on instigating race riots

Since an activist has threatened to gather the Red Shirts along Petaling Street, in defiance of the law, action should be taken against him.

KUALA LUMPUR: Since the Red Shirts gathering in Padang Merbok in Kuala Lumpur on September 16, Malaysia Day, their leader Jamal Mohd Yunus has been looking for as many excuses as possible to hold more demonstrations, even possibly ignite racial riots, said a political analyst. “September 16 was about Malay dignity, then we have the issue about trading along Petaling Street, foreigners trading, and fake goods, and Malays being left out.”

“It has long been known that Petaling Street is a Chinese area, a Chinatown. Chinatown means Chinese.”

Since Jamal has threatened to gather the Red Shirts along Petaling Street, in defiance of the law, said Shahbudin Husin, action should be taken against him for issuing the threats. “The laws are there to be upheld. If laws are broken, action must be taken.”

“If the laws are being broken by traders along Petaling Street, that’s no concern of Jamal but the authorities concerned. He can’t break the laws on the grounds that traders along Petaling Street are breaking the laws. We are not living in the Stone Age where force can be used to deprive others of their properties and their livelihood.”

If there are Malays who want to trade along Petaling Street, stressed the analyst, they should take up the matter with the authorities concerned. “The Red Shirts gathering there and using force to compel compliance with their wishes is not the way. Trade is about competition and not forcing consumers to patronize one’s business.”

Shahbudin warned that Jamal, by harping on race and increasing the polarization between communities and tension, was conducting himself in a shameful manner. “This is an affront to the dignity of the Malays.”

He noted that Deputy Inspector General of Police Noor Rashid Ibrahim has promised to act against Jamal and this should be done without any further delay. “He should be arrested, detained and investigated. Jamal has threatened that if the authorities don’t act against the traders along Petaling Street, he reckons that the chances of a gathering there to demonstrate are 99 per cent, and that riots may break out.”

Shahbudin reckons that Petaling Street traders don’t discriminate when it comes to selling anything, whether genuine or fakes. “As long as they can make a quick buck, the traders will sell anything, fakes included. It’s not their fault that the laws are not enforced.”

“Jamal has no business taking it upon himself to enforce the laws. If he does that, he will be breaking the laws himself and will have to face the consequences including for his many racist statements.”

Shahbudin thinks that while he’s at it, staging even more demonstrations, Jamal should gather the Red Shirts and hold a demonstration in front of the Ministry of Home Affairs given his concern on the growing number of foreigners in the country including along Petaling Street. “The Home Ministry is the authority that approves the influx of foreigners. They have also been lax when it comes to illegal immigrants.”

Two Malays in particular should be faulted, said Shahbudin, referring to the Kuala Lumpur Mayor and the Minister for the Federal Territories. “Not only have they been lax but they don’t seem to be demanding quotas for the Malays to trade along Petaling Street.”

If the Red Shirts are concerned about whatever unlawful activities are gong on along Petaling Street, said the analyst, Jamal should take up the matter with the authorities concerned. “If they don’t pay any heed, then the Coalition of Malay NGOs should gather the Red Shirts in front of the offices of the Deputy Prime Minister, the Federal Territories Minister, and Minister for Domestic Trade, Co-operatives and Consumerism and City Hall.”

“These are the people who exercise oversight on Petaling Street. They are the ones who should be answering if there are indeed unlawful activities taking place along Jalan Petaling.”