Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak today made a walkabout at the shopping paradise of Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman (TAR) and Jalan Masjid India in Kuala Lumpur.     

Najib began the walkabout at 5pm starting with the Sogo shopping complex located Jalan TAR.     

After mingling with the workers and shoppers at the complex, he continued his walkabout at the two areas where scores of shops selling textiles, clothing, jewellery and various other goods are located.     

Najib spent about 20 minutes at the Jakel textile outlet before heading to the bazaar at Wisma Yakin located at Jalan Masjid India.      

The members of the public and traders rushed forward to shake Najib’s hands and took the opportunity to be photographed together with the number one leader of the country.     

A textile wholesaler, Mohd Elah, 45, said she was very excited that Najib came by.     

"I am very happy, I can't believe the prime minister himself visited my shop. I will enlarge the photograph I took with him and have it displayed in my shop," she said while showing reporters the picture she took with the prime minister on her handphone.     

Lockdown bad for business

Azrul Zulkifli, 26, a trader at the Wisma Yakin bazaar, said Najib dropping by was somewhat a "balm" following the demonstrations yesterday.     

"He enquired how I was doing and said that he would try assist in modernising the bazaar as it is the only Malay bazaar in Kuala Lumpur which operates during day time," Azrul said.     

Azrul, who sells handbags at the bazaar, said he suffered losses of almost RM2,000 yesterday following police asking him to close the shop for a day in the interest of public safety.     

The manager of Madras Jeweller Sdn Bhd, M Vasudevan, 34, said his outlet suffered losses amounting to almost RM100,000 as result of not being able to operate yesterday.      

"Some of the business owners wanted to take the risk and open their shops but were advised not to by the police.     

"I hope this will not happen again as it is just to costly for us if we are not able to operate our businesses," said Vasudevan, who has been managing the outlet for the last five years.     

Najib was accompanied by Women, Family and Community Development Minister  Shahrizat Abdul Jalil and Deputy Federal Territories and Urban Wellbeing Minister M Saravanan during the walkabout.      

- Bernama