Rural and Regional Development Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob is proposing a Malays-only version of Low Yat Plaza. – The Malaysian Insider file pic, August 11, 2015. An Umno minister has proposed that a Malays-only version of Low Yat Plaza be opened in Kuala Lumpur, news portal Astro Awani reports, nearly a month after a racial scuffle broke out at the popular computer and electronics mall.
Rural and Regional Development Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said that the proposed store, which he called Low Yat 2, would only allow Malay traders to set up shop.
He suggested that it be located on the third floor of the Majlis Amanah Rakyat (Mara) building on Jalan Raja Laut. Mara is a government agency tasked with ensuring the advancement of Bumiputeras in various sectors.
"We are going to develop that floor as soon as possible and will give space to Malay traders specifically.
"We are going to turn it into Low Yat 2 and we will gather as many major suppliers as possible in this building," Ismail was quoted telling reporters after attending Mara's Hari Raya open house in the capital city today.
But he said that while he aimed for "100% of the traders to be Malays", they had no choice but to be less strict when it came to suppliers.
"There are no suppliers from among the Malays, so because of that we will give some leeway," Astro Awani reported him saying.
Low Yat Plaza, located in Kuala Lumpur's shopping district of Bukit Bintang, was the scene of fistfights on the night of July 12.
Around 200 people including Malay non-governmental organisations gathered in front of the mall to protest against the arrest of a Malay youth who allegedly stole a smartphone there the day before.
Storekeepers in the mall, where most of the retailers are largely Chinese, had apprehended the youth before turning him over to the police. This sparked a retaliatory attack on a smartphone store that was trashed after a group of youths returned, purportedly to take revenge over the arrest of their friend.
Police have insisted the brawling the following day was not racial, although comments made by the protesters at the scene as well as social media users have suggested otherwise.
The youth has been charged with theft while three men have been fined RM1,800 each for hurting the youth. – August 11, 2015.
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