Isma blames Low Yat fracas on ‘diaspora chauvinists’ who mocked Islam

(Malay Mail Online) – The melee and vandalism at Low Yat Plaza this weekend was the angry response towards “diaspora chauvinists” who insulted and ridiculed Islam and the Malay community, Islamist group Ikatan Muslimin Malaysia (Isma) claimed yesterday.

Isma asserted that it is only natural for Malay youths to release their anger on the Chinese traders in the popular tech mall as the Malays are known for running amok, and they would not have done so if they were not provoked by what the Muslim group claimed to be chauvinists.

“This diaspora chauvinists have day by day done their provocation; belittling Islamic teachings, ridiculing the Malay culture, questioning the position of Islam, Malays and the monarchy institution in the country, inciting Malays to hate their mufti and ulama,” said Isma information chief Mohd Hazizi Ab Rahman in a statement.

Hazizi did not specify who or what the “diaspora chauvinists” are, but Isma has previously used the word to refer to non-Muslims, especially the ethnic Chinese and the DAP.

According to him, the chauvinists are also “famous” for advertising loan sharking services in order to “entice” desperate Malays who are in debt, with allegedly no action taken against them.

“This was just a symptom to a more chronic cancer; businesses that are successful by swindling, protected by corruption and thugs,” said Mohd Hazizi.

“The youths would surely not act by ‘releasing their resentment’, if we have competent enforcers. It is a public secret, that the enforcers do not dare to touch the diaspora chauvinist traders, even when they are street hawkers.”

News agency Bernama yesterday reported that the police arrested a 22-year-old local man believed to be involved in a brawl that happened at 7.38pm on Saturday at the mall here.

According to the report, the suspect was caught by security guards at the complex for allegedly stealing a mobile phone and handed to the police.

However, the youth later contacted his friends who reacted by heading to the store where the attempted theft allegedly happened and assaulting the shop workers and causing an estimated RM70,000 in damage, the state news agency reported.

Late last night, police arrested three more people after more fights broke out after midnight outside Low Yat Plaza, which reportedly left five people injured — three of them believed to be journalists.

The trio who were arrested in the latest commotion, were aged between 22 and 25,  Bernama reported, citing city police chief Datuk Tajudin Md Isa.