After months of heated debate (and incredulity from Malaysian netizens) the proposed #LowYat2 Malay-centric tech mall is slated to open its doors for business in early December.
Tech portal Amanz reports that the tech mall, named after famed gadget hub Low Yat Plaza, will be located in Jalan Raja Laut’s Medan MARA building, and already has more than 36 Bumiputera traders signed up to operate from the new premises.
In July, Low Yat Plaza became the scene for violence as Malay protesters became unruly after store employees beat and apprehended a Malay youth for stealing a mobile phone.
Shortly after, UMNO Youth information chief Jamawi Jaafar called for a tech mall “for Malays, by Malays”, ostensibly to support Bumiputera entrepreneurs who face stiff competition from Malaysian Chinese traders.
The call was swiftly seconded by Rural and Regional Development Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob. Ismail’s ministry oversees the People’s Trust Council (Majlis Amanah Rakyat, or MARA) – the agency whose building LowYat2 will call home.
As of today, the (rather ironic) name of Low Yat 2 is still being used to refer to the new tech mall, although that might change as opening day draws nearer.
