FULL FORCE: They seek compensation for losses and want Ambiga arrested
KUALA LUMPUR: TRADERS warned Bersih organisers that they will retaliate if there is a Bersih 4.0 rally and that they will mobilise in full force against it.
At a peaceful demonstration outside Pertama Complex here yesterday, some 30 representatives of petty traders lashed out at Bersih, particularly co-chairman Datuk S. Ambiga, for the disruption to their businesses during the April 28 rally near Dataran Merdeka, which turned chaotic. They also called for Ambiga's arrest to prevent a similar incident.
The traders want compensation from the rally organisers for losses suffered and will stage a large protest outside Ambiga's home if the demands are not met.
Traders operating near Bersih gathering points had to shut down their businesses as police had closed off the roads.
Small- and Medium-Scale Entrepreneurs Association of Malaysia (Ikhlas) president Mohd Ridzuan Abdullah said traders had suffered losses totalling more than RM200,000.
"That is only from the 200 traders who have registered. There are still more traders turning up to seek compensation."
Ikhlas had set up a booth outside the shopping complex since Friday for traders to register their compensation claims.
"Just one day of unscheduled business closure affects us greatly as we have bank loans and rents to settle."
Ridzuan urged the Home Ministry and police to take action against Bersih and members of Pakatan Rakyat who had allegedly instigated the rally.
"The chaos tarnished the country's image."
He said the association would wait for a week before deciding on its next course of action.
He praised the efforts of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak in the aftermath of the incident and urged the government to "look out" for them.
"We are not millionaires. We barely get by with what we have. If the government won't look out for us, who will?"
In Baling, Bernama reported that several non-governmental organisations urged the government to revoke Ambiga's citizenship and withdraw honorary titles awarded to her and opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim for their part in the rally.
Pledging their support for Najib and the police, some 500 members of Perkasa, the Malaysian Youth Council, JKKP Baling, Baling Siamese Association, Pekida, Baling Women's and Wives Association, Puteri Umno and Malay traders burned effigies of Anwar and Ambiga.
Baling Anti-Bersih Movement chairman Othman Mohd Nor said the people of Baling deplored the rowdy behaviour of the rally participants.
Baling Perkasa chairman Wan Mahmud Wan Ibrahim said the violence could have been engineered by certain people who were out to destroy the country.