Today an NGO has lodged a police report over the alleged lease of the Central Market building for 75 years to a non-bumiputra company, which it claimed has oppressed the Malay traders at the iconic shopping mall.

The Coalition of Small and Medium Entrepreneurs Malaysia (Ikhlas) president Mohd Ridzuan said that the police report was also made to demand that the police and the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) investigate the matter.

In the report, Ikhlas claimed that they have checked the status of the Central Market and found that the building ownership, under the name of the Urban Development Authority (UDA), has been leased to a non-bumiputra company for 75 years.

NONE Ridzuan ( right ) also alleged in the report that the company has mortgaged the land and building owned by UDA to a bank.

According to the report, Ikhlas has received complaints from the Malay traders at Central Market that they have been oppressed by the management.

Therefore Ridzuan, who is also a businessman, has given the building owner, UDA Holding Bhd, a week to reclaim the building or else he will proceed to call a protest rally in from of the Central Market building next Tuesday.

Accompanied by seven supporters, Ridzuan made the report at Dang Wangi police district headquarters at around 11.15am, followed by a press conference.

On Oct 29, Ikhlas had urged UDA Holdings to change the new management of the heritage building.

He claimed the traders at Central Market were “harassed” as a 12 percent surcharge was imposed for late payment of rent.

Attempts are being made to obtain the response of UDA and the company named in the police report.