The group Pertubuhan Kebajikan Dakwah Islamiah (Pekida) had never issued any official orders for its members to gather at Low Yat Plaza in Bukit Bintang last night, said its president Jamaludin Yusuf.

 

Instead, he said the gathering last night was the action of certain individuals acting on their own, and the gathering had involved Pekida members as well other NGOs and individuals.

 

He appealed to Pekida members to behave themselves to avoid any untoward incidents, and not to engage in any kind of provocation.

 

“There was no official order. We did not manage to issue a statement in time and they had already gone (to Low Yat Plaza). In addition, I live in Kedah, but some people had informed me from Kuala Lumpur. So it was hard to take action in such a situation.

 

“Pekida will monitor the situation. I hope those involved would control themselves so that the situation does not become chaotic,” he told Malaysiakini when contacted.

 

Jamaludin said Pekida would also cooperate with security forces to ensure that the situation does not escalate.

 

“If there is a fight, it only takes a moment. But reconciliation would take years. I hope those involved would control themselves.

 

“We will contain the situation. If thing get out of hand and people don’t obey the security forces, Pekida will take action together with the security forces,” he added.

 

MCA slams gathering

Separately, MCA religious harmony bureau chief Ti Lian Ker ( photo ) slammed Pekida for the gathering outside Low Yat Plaza.

 

He said the issue should have been a straightforward case of shoplifting at the popular electronics goods mall, and should not have been played up as a racial issue.

 

“Malaysia is a country governed by rule of law. There is no room for anybody to take the law into their own hands, especially when vigilantism involves physical assault, violence.

 

“There is no reason for the group of 200-odd members reported to be associated with Pekida to follow up on the ruckus by gathering outside, of whom, a few had slipped into the premises of Low Yat Plaza at night.

 

“Such moves reek of racial intimidation and could have easily gone out of hand if left uncontrolled by the police,” he said in a statement today.

 

He also slammed the assault on several reporters and members of the public in the area later that night, and urged the authorities to act swiftly.

 

“Racially incendiary statements such as those uttered during that night time gathering must be reprimanded.

 

“All who stoke racial fire in social media must be warned not to go aboard or be seditious or incendiary in publishing their statements,” he said, while appealing for the public to remain calm.

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