The heavy-handed approach of the police in bringing some 30 Low Yat Plaza traders for investigation has scared off traders and customers, a local trade association said.

Bukit Bintang Hawkers and Petty Traders Association chief See Foo Hoong said the traders have suffered business losses over the weekend brawl, which may also have led consumers to think that the mall is a sanctuary for forged items.

To add salt into the wound, See said, the police action has exacerbated business at Low Yat Plaza, he said.

“They (police) are a bit too much, making consumers to think the mall is problematic. The traders are perturbed and do not know when the fiasco will be over.

“The brawl has caused the traders to suffer losses. The customers dare not go there for shopping.

“The police action has scared off the traders as well. We hope the police can be more fair and mild in their work.

“Let the traders have a rest,” See, who operates a handphone shop in nearby Jalan Alor, told a media conference in Low Yat Plaza late this evening.

Speaking on behalf of the cellphone traders at the mall, See said should the business drop, the Low Yat traders will have a difficult time, since the monthly rental is expensive, between RM10,000 and RM20,000 per stall.

Also present were Gerakan national public service and complaints bureau chief Wilson Lau and Gerakan Youth deputy chief Andy Yo.

Three traders, who are assisting the police investigations, were present to tell their story.

A handphone outlet owner, who only wished to be identified as Tim Chon, said a plainclothes policeman asked him and his nine staff members to surrender their identity cards.

Later, nine police officers asked them to enter a police van to Dang Wangi district police headquarters.

This was to facilitate the investigation on the weekend brawl, Chon added.

Shouldn't be treated like criminals

Eric Yong, who was one of the nine persons, said the police requested those who were involved in the Saturday fiasco to surrender.

“The police said, if no one admits, then he doesn’t know what will the police do next.”

The police remanded a staff who was involved in the brawl based on CCTV footage and others had their mugshots taken before being released at 5pm, Yong added.

Meanwhile, Gerakan's Lau criticised the police for using a heavy-handed approach to record statements from the mall traders.

The traders should not be treated like criminals, Lau added.

“I hope the IGP and the police can do their investigations in a fair manner.”

Lau said the police could use the mild approach by summoning the traders to the police station or recording the statements at their outlet premises.

Meanwhile, Gerakan Youth deputy chief Yong, a lawyer by profession, said his party would provide legal aid to the four traders who have been arrested.

Earlier, an auxiliary policeman and four handphone traders were arrested to facilitate investigations into the fracas that erupted at Low Yat Plaza over the weekend.

A spokesperson for the Dang Wangi district police headquarters said the four traders were detained under Section 147 and 427 of the Penal Code for rioting and causing damage.

Malay Armed Forces Veterans Association president Mohd Ali Baharom, who is known as 'Ali Tinju', was arrested under the Sedition Act for making an inflammatory speech during the gathering on Sunday.

The rumpus, which was sparked by a handphone theft, led to a mob rioting outside the mall, during which seven people were injured.

Police are still hunting for blogger Wan Muhammad Azri Wan Deris, popularly known as Papagomo, who has been accused of spreading false news.

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