KUALA LUMPUR: Ahead of a planned red-shirt rally, leaders from the new Pakatan Harapan coalition gathered in Petaling Street on Saturday in a show of racial unity and solidarity with the traders there.
Speaking to reporters at a restaurant in Petaling Street, Lembah Pantai MP Nurul Izzah Anwar said that Muslims must unite against attempts to jeopardise racial harmony.
"Petaling Street is a place of gathering for all Malaysians. The racism we have been seeing belongs in the stone age," she said.
DAP acting chairman and Cheras MP Tan Kok Wai urged the police and the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) to investigate allegations of protesters being paid to join the Red Shirt rally on September 16.
He also called for police to take proper action against Sungai Besar Umno chief Datuk Jamal Md Yunos for making racial slurs even before the Sept 16 rally.
"Although Jamal had been arrested by the police, will they charge him? Even if he was charged, will he be released like Ali Tinju?
"Ali made statements that are racist, inflammatory and seditious, yet he was not convicted," said Tan.
The leaders from PKR, DAP and Parti Amanah Negara proceeded to go on a walkabout around Petaling Street after the press conference.
Among those attending the press conference and walkabout were DAP adviser Lim Kit Siang, Seputeh MP Teresa Kok, national laureate A. Samad Said and Amanah central committee member Hu Pang Chow.
It was business as usual at Petaling Street as traders opened their shops as per normal with policemen keeping watch.
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