The Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Ministry had planned to conduct a formal meeting with Petaling Street traders after a visit, but it was cancelled because the ministry does not want to be seen as bowing down to the red shirts, its minister Hamzah Zainuddin revealed today.

"I wanted to meet with them formally, then Sept 16 came, during which a commotion occurred in front of Petaling Street.

"The meeting I registered, which was supposed to be on Sept 23, due to the threat (to hold another protest at Petaling Street on Sept 26) II did not want the meeting. Otherwise, people will say I conducted the meeting because of the threat," Hamzah said after a walkabout in Shah Alam, Selangor.

The red shirt group spokerperson, Sungai Besar Umno division leader Jamal Md Yunus, threatened to hold a rally at Petaling Street if the authorities do not address the counterfeit goods problem there.

Jamal even insinuated that a riot would take place at Petaling Street on the day.

The police called Jamal for an investigation and detained him under Section 105 of the Criminal Procedure Code.

Nevertheless, the ministry, Hamzah ( photo ) said, would call for another meeting wih the Petaling Street traders while everything is "stablished".

"Until everything is dealt with, I will call them back… Once it is stabilised, I will call the traders to answer my questions," he said.

He also stressed that Malaysia has sufficient laws to protect the people and that the government is not afraid of "threats".

"We have sufficient laws and regulations. We have the army, police and enforcement units… Therefore, when we have laws, no one can act as though he is above the law and threaten others.

"If the country follows the people who make threats, it means our laws are insufficient. We have enough laws, so the problem does not arise," Hamzah added.

'Don't profiteer from fuel price increases'

Asked whether counterfeit goods were found during the Petaling Street visit, Hamzah declined to comment, saying he "had to meet the traders" first.

On an unrelated matter, he warned traders not to profiteer after the the government increases petrol and diesel prices by 10sen a litre, effective this month.

"For the last two months, fuel prices dropped. I said, if possible, the traders should decrease the prices (but) they said fuel price is not a factor that affects her prices of goods.

"The government announced the 10sen increase(in fuel price). I would like to see them to hold another press conference to say fuel prices are not a factor that affect goods prices. That would be fair to consumers.

"If anyone profiteers, I want to tell them that we would arrest them," Hamzah warned.