It's business as usual at Petaling Street

It's business as usual at Petaling Street on Saturday as the Red Shirt rally which was planned to be held there was called off by the organisers at the eleventh hour.

Dang Wangi police chief ACP Zainol Samah said traders selling food items began operating in stages beginning 10am.

"Our surveillance at Bukit Bintang area especially at Plaza Low Yat found business as usual," he said in a statement, today.

He also stressed that there were no elements that suggested the presence of the Red Shirt rally goers at Petaling Street or Bukit Bintang.

He said the number of police personnel was sufficient and added that the men in blue will continue to patrol and carry out surveillance at the areas.

Astro AWANI which visited Petaling Street also found that everything was calm and in order with shops and stalls open for business beginning 3pm.

Yesterday, police arrested Red Shirts rally organiser Datuk Jamal Md Yunos under Section 105 of the Criminal Procedure Code.

The Red Shirt rally which had gathered on Sept 16 had among others demanded that the Domestic, Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Ministry act against the alleged sale of counterfeit goods in Petaling Street.

They also wanted the traders there to share a portion of their income with other races and stop a monopoly in the area.

On Wednesday, Jamal who is also the Sungei Besar UMNO division chief warned that another rally will be held at Petaling Street this Saturday if the authorities failed to meet their demands.