It was business as usual for two grocery stores - a Malay-run and another Indian-run - which operated side-by-side at Pangsapuri Sri Rebana, planted deep in a sprawling new township in Bandar Bukit Raja, where race-motivated clashes were said to have taken place last week.
When Malaysiakinivisited the Rebana apartment yesterday, which has a mix of Malays, Indians and Chinese, there were no signs of any racial tension.
Children were playing in the vicinity and teenagers in school uniforms were strolling back home in the afternoon, without fear or concern.
A few residents when first approached claimed no knowledge of any flare up of violence in the apartments.
"Nothing, it is all peaceful here now," said M Krishnan, a resident of Block D.
The 28-year-old lorry driver was one of the few willing to talk about what happened because his wedding was nearly threatened by the incident.
Even though he collected less wedding gifts than he had hope for, owing to reports of tension in the area, Krishnan was glad that calm had returned.
Hindraf highlighted that five Indian youths were slashed and an Indian woman threatened with a parang in what the movement labeled as an attack on the secluded apartments by a "Malay mob."
In contrast, the police had denied that there was any racial violence in the area.
Acting Selangor police chief A Thaiveegan said that rumours only spread after a road accident involving motorcyclists that sparked off fighting between two groups in the vicinity of the apartments.
When Malaysiakinivisited the Rebana apartment yesterday, which has a mix of Malays, Indians and Chinese, there were no signs of any racial tension.Children were playing in the vicinity and teenagers in school uniforms were strolling back home in the afternoon, without fear or concern.
A few residents when first approached claimed no knowledge of any flare up of violence in the apartments.
"Nothing, it is all peaceful here now," said M Krishnan, a resident of Block D.
The 28-year-old lorry driver was one of the few willing to talk about what happened because his wedding was nearly threatened by the incident.
Even though he collected less wedding gifts than he had hope for, owing to reports of tension in the area, Krishnan was glad that calm had returned.
Hindraf highlighted that five Indian youths were slashed and an Indian woman threatened with a parang in what the movement labeled as an attack on the secluded apartments by a "Malay mob."
In contrast, the police had denied that there was any racial violence in the area.
Acting Selangor police chief A Thaiveegan said that rumours only spread after a road accident involving motorcyclists that sparked off fighting between two groups in the vicinity of the apartments.
Police acted fast
Krishnan, on the other hand, said there was some violence but swift police action kept the situation under control.
"Last Wednesday and Thursday, a group of about 100 Malay youths riding scooters came armed with parangs and steel pipes. They wanted to seek revenge on one of the residents," he added.
However, Krishnan (photo) said the mob came searching at the wrong block.
"After they noticed a 'gang' symbol' painted on Block D, they knocked on each door in the block, leaving the residents terrified," he added.
Krishnan said the man that the mob was looking for lived in Block F and had only been renting a unit there for less than a year.
On Thursday night, the mob returned and this time a fight broke out in which five people were slashed and injured while a motorcycle was also set on fire before police again intervened.
The next day, the police had set up road blocks along three roads accessing the apartments to prevent such further incidents.
From residents and media accounts, the violence originally sparked elsewhere over a simple road accident.
Reports said motorcyclist Mohd Syukri Sairun, 24, collided into a Proton Iswara at Jalan Sg. Keramat. A dispute ensued and Mohd Syukri’s hands were slashed with a parang.
This incident was spread on the social media and was even posted by Perkasa on its Facebook page.
"Last Wednesday and Thursday, a group of about 100 Malay youths riding scooters came armed with parangs and steel pipes. They wanted to seek revenge on one of the residents," he added.
However, Krishnan (photo) said the mob came searching at the wrong block."After they noticed a 'gang' symbol' painted on Block D, they knocked on each door in the block, leaving the residents terrified," he added.
Krishnan said the man that the mob was looking for lived in Block F and had only been renting a unit there for less than a year.
On Thursday night, the mob returned and this time a fight broke out in which five people were slashed and injured while a motorcycle was also set on fire before police again intervened.
The next day, the police had set up road blocks along three roads accessing the apartments to prevent such further incidents.
From residents and media accounts, the violence originally sparked elsewhere over a simple road accident.
Reports said motorcyclist Mohd Syukri Sairun, 24, collided into a Proton Iswara at Jalan Sg. Keramat. A dispute ensued and Mohd Syukri’s hands were slashed with a parang.
This incident was spread on the social media and was even posted by Perkasa on its Facebook page.
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