Ten of the 11 Kuala Lumpur members of Parliament have launched a scathing attack against City Hall (DBKL) for ‘victimising’ hawkers and petty traders through 'selective' enforcement action in the immediate post-election period.

Representing opposition parties PKR, DAP and PAS, the 10 met last night to discuss the situation and issued a joint statement.

It was signed by Khalid Ibrahim (Bandar Tun Razak), Dr Tan Seng Giaw (Kepong), Tian Chua (Batu), Wee Choo Keong (Wangsa Maju), Dr Lo’Lo’ Mohamad Ghazali (Titiwangsa), Nurul Izzah Anwar (Lembah Pantai), Teresa Kok (Seputeh), Tan Kok Wai (Cheras), Fong Kui Lun (Bukit Bintang) and Lim Lip Eng (Segambut).

dewan bandaraya kuala lumpur dbkl and johor flood operation “Two months leading to the 12th general election, we noted that DBKL was very relaxed in taking action against hawkers, petty traders, DBKL tenants and others,” their statement reads.

“However, immediately after the election, (which resulted) in clear rejection of Barisan Nasional by KL residents, DBKL swung into action to punish hawkers and DBKL tenants in the opposition-held constituencies.”

The parliamentarians alleged that this was done in retaliation for BN’s electoral defeat.

“As such, we strongly condemn DBKL for involving itself in politics and taking such concerted actions to victimise and punish hawkers, petty traders and DBKL tenants for exercising their democratic rights.

communication and multimedia seminar 240706 zulhasnan rafique “We call on the KL mayor to immediately stop such political actions aimed at punishing the KL people.”

The elections on March 8 saw only one BN candidate making the cut - Umno’s Zulhasnan Rafique (photo) who won by a 8,134 majority in Setiawangsa. He has since retained the ministerial post of federal territories minister.

Traditionally, the Setiawangsa seat has one of the highest number of postal voters from armed forces personnel. According to armed forces election coordinating officer for Setiawangsa, Hamdan Yaccob: “The defence ministry alone carries 12,647 registered voters.”

No victimisation

In an immediate reaction Deputy Federal Territories Minister M Saravanan denied that these city folks were being victimised for voting for the opposition.

“We don’t know who these individual people voted for. Don’t forget some 50 percent of the city voters also voted for us. We gain nothing by ‘punishing’ them as claimed by the opposition MPs,” he told Malaysiakini today.

He added that the enforcement actions and summonses were issued to law-breakers, not to any law-abiding citizens.

“The KL people must know that the FT ministry is here to help and support them. They can always come to us if they have any problems. Our doors are always open to them,” he said.

He said that by running to the opposition with their complaints would not solve anything for those affected KL citizens.

He also advised the 10 opposition MPs to check with either DBKL or his ministry first before making such claims.