Petaling Street, popularly known as Chinatown, turned into a hotspot on Wednesday when 800-strong red shirt protesters, who insisted on marching through the area, clashed with police.

The police, backed by a team of Federal Reserve Unit, blocked the red shirts at the entrance of the street, and water cannons were eventually used to disperse the rowdy protesters.

Following the Malaysia Day four-hour stand-off, red shirts' spokesperson Jamal Md Yunos demanded the street be opened to Malay traders.

"Most of the stalls here are started by Chinese traders who have worked hard for many years to make a living," said Low Chee Hong ( right ), 49, a souvenir stall owner told Malaysiakini .

His sentiments were echoed by a T-shirt seller who only wished to be known as Law, 53, who described Jamal's motives as ill-intended.

"He should ask for a street for Malay traders similar to Jalan Chow Kit and Jalan Masjid India where there are many Malay traders," he said.

Law believes there are powerful hands behind the red shirts who sought to create havoc in the area.

Both Low and Law ( right ) have worked in Petaling Street for over three decades. "I spend more time here than at home," Low quipped.

They are part of a community of traders, some of whom have been trading here for generations, although many of shops are now operated by foreigners hired by the Chinese owners.

Petaling Street, considered a major tourist spot, has about 700 stalls peddling all sorts of items, among others, clothing, trinkets and souvenirs.

The reason the red shirts, who were part of the Sept 16's ‘Himpunan Rakyat Bersatu’, insisted on marching through the street is because of its significance as Chinatown.

Porn CDs

Jamal also claimed the Malays were angered by the fake goods and pornographic CDs being sold there.

"Malay markets sell fake goods too, not just Petaling Street. Tourists come to Petaling Street because they want to buy cheap fakes,” said Law.

As for porn CDs, he chuckled: "In this day and age, who wants to buy or sell porn CDs."

Adding to this, Chong Yoke Yean ( left ), 44, who runs her grandfather-in-law's stall selling buns, said the red shirts do not represent the Malays.

"The Malays in Malaysia may not necessarily support their actions. I'm not worried because this is a democratic country," she said.

Meanwhile, Oki Doni ( right ), the vice-mayor of Tebing Tinggi in northern Sumatra who was visiting Petaling Street, said Chinatown should not be made a racial issue.

According to him, the stand-off on Wednesday shouldn't have happened.

"Chinatown is very popular in Indonesia, too. I don't think this should be turned into a racial issue and there shouldn't be any discrimination against other races," he said.