Petty traders chief denies he's an Umno crony
Kuala Lumpur Traders and Residents’ Action Council chairperson Jamal Md Yunus has denied allegations that he is an Umno crony.
Kuala Lumpur Traders and Residents’ Action Council chairperson Jamal Md Yunus has denied allegations that he is an Umno crony.
“People can talk. I don’t have a position or rank,” he said when asked by reporters at a press conference at his restaurant today.
When asked about his 1Malaysia Fish Restaurant, he said it was entirely his effort, without a single penny or assistance from the government.
The Sekinchan native also denied that he was an Umno member.
Instead, he insisted that his movement, formerly known as the Kuala Lumpur Petty Traders Action Council until today’s name-change, was an independent and apolitical movement from the capital’s peace-loving traders and city-dwellers.
“During the first Bersih rally they were still patient. During Bersih 2.0, they felt the heartache. For Bersih 3.0, we want to voice our displeasure towards the organisers of Bersih 1, 2, and 3,” he said while wearing a yellow T-shirt that reads, ‘Bersih 4.0: Cleaning up Bersih 1, 2 and 3. Repent!’
He acknowledged allegations that he was close to Agriculture and Agro-based Industries Minister Noh Omar, but countered this was because Noh was his MP before redelineation in 2004, and he has friends across the political divide including Sekinchan’s DAP assemblyperson Ng Suee Lim.
Jamal’s group would be holding a market in front of Bersih co-chairperson Ambiga Sreenevasan’s residence tomorrow and the day after despite disapproval from the Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL).
On Monday, they had painted stall lots in Bukit Damansara in preparation for the market, dubbed Bersih 4.0: Cleaning up Bersih 1, 2, and 3.
However, these were painted over by DBKL on the same night.
Commenting on his plans to defy DBKL, he said his group of traders have no legal knowledge, whereas Bersih 3.0’s organisers had legal training but broke the law anyway.
“So we want to show if wall Kuala Lumpur residents do not respect the law, things would become chaotic,” he said.
'All 60 lots sold'
Nonetheless, Jamal said they were able to sell all 60 lots, raising RM12,000 that would be channelled to campaign materials, and to clean up after the market is over.
When asked whether he could guarantee that the market would be peaceful, Jamal said the group only plans to be trading and can’t be held responsible if someone comes to cause a disturbance.
Why asked why can’t the same principle be applied to Bersih’s organisers, Jamal apparently dodged the question and replied, “I believe all those who come to Bersih 4.0 are disciplined and have a high sense of responsibility in loving peace.”
Asked to comment on the government’s lawsuit against Ambiga, he said he had sought legal opinion on the matter but has yet to reach a decision.
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