A Case When Dbkl Is Aloof With Crisis Mgmt Its Damage Control Comms Is Predictably Defensive Lacks Human Touch

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SUCH is the case in its handling of the Abang Belon saga so much so that the Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) is portrayed as a bully who flexes its muscle at the weak and vulnerable Malay traders yet gutless to act against “the Rohingyas who control the Selayang wholesale market or Bangladeshis who dominate the Meru Market Complex”.
Regardless of the fact if the ballon vendor is an unlicensed trader or otherwise, DBKL’s lack of empathy in its maiden media statement of the incident has further sparked furore among the B40 group who sees DBKL as oppressing small traders.

It is certainly ridiculous for DBKL to defend its enforcement team with “who started the commotion” taking the centre stage without outlining initiatives taken by the local authority to facilitate the livelihood of small traders who are struggling to make ends meet amid the spiralling cost of living in the Federal capital.

Such is the ‘most moderate’ if not sensible view of by pro-Madani influencer Farhan Zulkefly as many of his cybertrooper peers tended to train their guns at 29-year-old Muhamad Za’imuddin Azlan who is now hospitalised in the Serdang Hospital with a possible spinal fracture following a scuffle with DBKL enforcement officer.
Editor’s Note: Browsing through the X platform alone, many unfounded accusations have been hurled at Za’imuddin by claiming that he is a foreigner, that he is faking his injury or that the entire pre-Raya scuffle was orchestrated by quarters dissatisfied with DBKL fully handling the Ramadan bazaar license this year (to undermine Federal Territories Minister Datuk Seri Dr Zaliha Mustafa).
“DBKL is very untactful in managing this crisis. Muhyiddin’s (Bersatu chairman and Perikatan Nasional president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin) statement seems to offer a solution compared to DBKL’s,” observed Farhan.

“If Muhyiddin’s statement can appear more ‘humane’ and ‘benevolent’ than DBKL’s, it’s indeed a big problem for the (Madani) government.”
The digital creator nevertheless credited DBKL for its subsequent media statement on “resting three enforcement officers over the March 28 incident along Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman pending an internal probe”.
“This time DBKL’s statement is much more empathetic and humane,” praised Farhan. “That’s why yesterday I criticised DBKL’s way of handling this crisis for it seemed harsh. However, there is more kindness shown today.”

With anger still raging over the Dewi Sri Pathrakaliamman Temple relocation after Muslim convert preacher Firdaus Wong Wai Hung alleged that the Madani government had paid RM2 mil in compensation to the 130-year-old temple, a recipe for disaster is brewing with the opposition front led by Ratu Naga positioning Malays as a “second class citizens in their homeland” following the Abang Belon incident.

Whatever the case is, UMNO Youth chief Datuk Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh is adamant to proceed with his legal action plan against DBKL.
“Thank you DBKL for considering covering the medical costs (of the ballon vendor), he penned on his Facebook page.
“But that doesn’t mean the court action to demand justice for Abang Belon will stop. See you in court soon.”

Meanwhile, Pahang ruler Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah through his son Tengku Muhammad Iskandar Ri’ayatuddin Shah had paid a visit to the Jerantut-born Abnag Belon yesterday (March 30). – March 31, 2025

- Focus Malaysia

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