Editor’s Note: BDS Malaysia (Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions Against Israel movement) wants the Suria KLCC management to apologise to former Batu MP Tian Chua and other pro-Palestinian activists who were treated “very unjustly and badly” by the latter’s security guards following a scuffle yesterday’s (Sept 7).
The NGO also demanded the shopping mall to clarify its policy on visitors who have with them paraphernalia which carry pro-Palestine messages.
CAN protestors acting peacefully take their demonstrations into the confines of a shopping mall? Or are they only restricted to what is deemed “public” space?
This is the pertinent question confronting citizens when a group of pro-Palestinian activists took their march into the snazzy confines of the Suria KLCC shopping complex.
In a widely circulated video, former Batu MP Chua Tian Chang a.k.a. Tian Chua is seen manhandled by mall security and escorted out of the premises for brandishing the Palestine flag.
Other demonstrators who had been protesting against US President Donald Trump’s impending visit could be heard shouting “Free Palestine” slogans in the background.
As reported in Free Malaysia Today, Suria KLCC management clarified thar the “visitor” was asked not to bring a “long wooden stick” into the premises in line with longstanding safety procedures.
“We would like to clarify that this is a standard security measure that applies to all visitors, and we wish to reassure the public that our actions were not based on any political stance,” it pointed out.
However, a woman filming the incident shouted that the guards were mistreating him for holding the Palestinian flag.
The group behind the post accused the mall of roughing up pro-Palestinian activists who had attended the “Trump Don’t Come” rally which called for the cancellation of US president Donald Trump’s visit to Malaysia.
They also threatened a boycott, claiming other activists carrying placards without sticks were also barred or expelled and argued that dialogue could have resolved the matter.
Were the security personnel heavy handed in their approach? Or were the protestors guilty of overstepping boundaries?
I love to go to KLCC & have been there for many years since t was open for business ! After this incident, I would refrain from going to KLCC until they issue an apology for their security personnel uncivilised behaviour on @tianchua and Palestinian activists ! @BDSmovement pic.twitter.com/n1ZkQbrbE0
— Dr. Rais Hussin (@raishussin) September 7, 2025
One online commenter was Dr Rais Hussin who thought that the Suria KLCC management owes Tian Chua and the other pro-Palestine protestors an apology for the manner in which this incident was handled.
The Malaysian Research Accelerator for Technology and Innovation (MRANTI) CEO went on to declare on X that he would refrain from patronising Suria KLCC until this matter was resolved.
The post which has generated 548.1K views elicited plenty of responses, some agreeing with the PKR-inclined think tank EMIR Research founder that the security personnel were acting in an over-aggressive manner.
However, there were those who felt that Tian Chua and the protestors had over-stepped boundaries.
How would one feel if protestors marched into your home shouting slogans, asked one commenter. Others also labelled Tian Chua an attention seeker and drama queen.
Some commenters were also of the view that the protestors should have kept their distance outside the mall.
It is, after all, private property. One claimed there were no problems with pro-Palestine protestors visiting Suria KLCC dressed in relevant garb in previous demos. They even shouted slogans in front (not inside) of the mall without any security issues.
Quite a few pointed out that it was the flag pole that caused the ruckus – not the Palestine flag.
Given Malaysia’s strong pro-Palestine stance, there will be those who feel that the message needs to be conveyed loud, clear and from every possible vicinity, including Suria KLCC. Tourists’ and visitors’ uneasiness be damned.
However, many opined that certain boundaries need to be respected, including the need to keep demonstrations in relevant places. Sticks and slogans have no place in the rarefied atmosphere of the Suria KLCC. – Sept 8, 2025
