LETTER | The aggressive apprehension of an unlicensed balloon seller by Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) officers is yet another example of the authorities’ misplaced priorities and abuse of power.

While petty traders struggle to survive amid skyrocketing living costs, exorbitant rents, and the government’s failure to control the prices of essential goods, enforcement agencies choose to flex their muscles against the most vulnerable.

Instead of showing discretion or offering solutions, such as guiding the seller toward proper licensing, officers resort to heavy-handed tactics, further marginalising those already pushed to the brink. 

This culture of intimidation must end. The officers involved should be suspended pending an independent investigation, and DBKL must undergo serious reforms, including sensitivity training, to ensure enforcement is carried out with empathy, not brutality.  

DBKL should focus on facilitating livelihoods, not destroying them. A compassionate approach, such as more designated zones for small traders or temporary permits, would be far more effective than ruthless enforcement. 

And the government must stop punishing the poor for its own incompetence. 

If DBKL officers cannot exercise basic humanity, they have no business wielding power over the people they are meant to serve.

The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.