Traders are bracing for clashes and losses
AVOIDING RISK: Shops have been ordered closed, but some will remain open
TRADERS along Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman and Jalan Masjid India said they were expecting a slump in business as the protesters from the Red Shirts and Bersih gather in the vicinity today.
About 138 traders operating in a trading plaza in the area had been ordered to close their shops to avoid any untoward incidents and prevent crowds from entering the plaza.
Most traders in the area said they would suffer losses between RM3,000 and RM5,000 due to the closure, while those who have chosen to remain open were expecting a huge drop in the number of customers.
Roshni Bazaar operations manager Ashok Kumar said he had to make the “heavy decision” this year to close the three-floor plaza for the safety of the traders.
“Normally, on Saturdays, we receive a good crowd, but I cannot take chances during this year’s rally.
“Looking at the ruckus caused by the Red Shirts in the past few weeks, I’m afraid something bad will happen tomorrow (today).
“When those two groups clash, anything could happen. We had one bad experience during the first Bersih when some protesters ran into the plaza to hide. They exposed the traders to danger.”
One of the traders in the plaza, Kamran Khan, 34, said he was upset that he had to close his shop.
“We traders become the victims. Even if the management allows us to open our shops, the roads leading to this area are closed.
“Who wants to come shopping here when hundreds of protesters are in the area?
“I could incur a loss of RM5,000 tomorrow (today). I am upset because there are salaries and rent to pay, yet we cannot run our business due to the rally,” said Kamran, who has been in business for 12 years.
Textile trader Mohd Nor, 59, said he had to close his shop because he was afraid that the Red Shirts would create a ruckus.
“I have seen their behaviour in videos on social media. They are aggressive and provocative. They
Pic by Aizuddin Saad
in Kuala Lumpur yesterday ahead of the have made it clear that they plan to create chaos during the rally.”
Shoe trader Hafiz Yusuf, 26, said the biggest chunk of his profit came on Saturdays as local and foreign customers flocked to the area.
“I could earn RM4,000 on one Saturday alone. Although the organisers said the rally would finish at 6pm, surely customers have made other plans and will go shopping elsewhere.”
Textile and women’s accessories trader C.K. Rahim, 57, who has four shops in the area, would keep his shops open today.
He said he believed visitors from neighbouring countries, such as Singapore
and Brunei, who are staying in hotels in the area, would still patronise his shops.
“For each shop that closes, I could suffer RM5,000 in losses. That would be RM20,000 for four shops in just a day.
“I have to take the risk. I can only pray to God that everything will turn out okay.”
However, he said, he did not blame the Red Shirts for planning to hold a counterrally on the same day as the Bersih group.
“The Red Shirts have equal rights as Bersih to protest. My only hope is that the protesters will not create a ruckus, at least not near my shops.”