It’s back to normal at Low Yat Plaza
As the weekend's clashes led to the most of the tenants at the renowned digital gadget mall Low Yat Plaza closing down yesterday, businesses appeared to be back to normal this morning.
Malaysiakini observed shopkeepers busy displaying and promoting their products and several customers were spotted seeking bargains.
However, the stormeye of the violent incident - the Oppo smartphone outlet - was yet to open its doors.
As the weekend's clashes led to the most of the tenants at the renowned digital gadget mall Low Yat Plaza closing down yesterday, businesses appeared to be back to normal this morning.
Malaysiakini observed shopkeepers busy displaying and promoting their products and several customers were spotted seeking bargains.
There were a lot more customers appeared in the capital city mall at noon, looking for their preferred gadgets.
However, the stormeye of the violent incident - the Oppo smartphone outlet - was yet to open its doors.
A handphone outlet employee, who only wanted to be known as Kumar, said he felt secure after seeing most of the shops resume business this morning.
"I feel more safer now. The weekend (clash) was dangerous. Sunday was the worst. My boss called me at 2am to take care of the stock, " the 19-year old part-time worker told Malaysiakini .
Eris, who has been working with a computer gadget shop at the mall for six years, said he was comfortable to greet customers today, seeing that most outlets were back to business, and policemen were on patrol.
Despite this, Eris still remained a little anxious.
"Yesterday, the closure of many shops made me feel insecure. Today, the security level is at 90 percent, and my scare level only at 10 percent," he said.
“No problem. I feel safe here… No impact for me. But the violence should not evolve into racial conflict,” the 28-year-old engineer added.
In a related development, Low Yat Plaza senior manager Elaine Liew said the management decided to waive the fine it imposes on tenants for shop closure after the violence occurred.
“We are happy to see them (the tenants) back to business,” Liew said.
Charged and pleads not guilty
The alleged phone theft accused, Shahrul Anwar Abdul Aziz, who caused the weekend unrest in Low Yat Plaza, was charged in a magistrate’s court in Kuala Lumpur today.
Shahrul Anwar pleaded not guilty and was allowed bail at RM3,000 on one surety.
On Saturday evening, his friends attacked several people at Low Yat Plaza and the mall staff retaliated by assaulting the group.
The next day, at least 200 people, claiming to represent Malay NGOs, held a protest outside the mall, with many of them uttering racist and derogatory remarks.
Eventually, the group became unruly and assaulted several people, including journalists from Chinese newspapers.
According to the police, 18 people were arrested for rioting.
There was no further violence at the mall or in its vicinity yesterday.
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