KUALA LUMPUR — Three Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) enforcement officers who were involved in a scuffle with a balloon hawker at Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman last Friday have been temporarily relieved of their duties pending an internal probe.
KL Mayor Datuk Seri Dr Maimunah Mohd Sharif said the local authority’s move to “temporary rest” the three personnel is to allow the internal probe, as well as a police investigation, to be conducted independently, transparently and comprehensively without any interference.
In a statement, she said this decision was also discussed with Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Federal Territories) Datuk Seri Dr Zaliha Mustafa.
“DBKL views the incident seriously and will not compromise with any wrongdoing by its personnel, if convicted,” Maimunah said.
She added that DBKL has sent a representative to visit the vendor, named Muhamad Za’imuddin Azlan, in hospital where he is receiving treatment following the physical altercation on Friday.
“DBKL is considering funding the cost of his treatment, subject to further assessment and his medical needs.
“We urge all parties to stop making speculations on the incident to allows to conduct a detailed investigation into the matter,” Maimunah added.
Meanwhile, on the police investigation, Dang Wangi police chief Sulizmie Affendy Sulaiman was reported saying police have taken statements from five people for the probe, which is under Section 186 of the Penal Code for voluntarily obstructing a public servant in the discharge of their public functions.
Sulizmie told Free Malaysia today that the balloon vendor’s family has also lodged a police report.
Following public outcry, DBKL in its first statement yesterday on the incident said it would conduct an internal probe and also review is enforcement standard operating procedures (SOP).
It also said the balloon vendor had been given two warnings against hawking his goods at a congested area, but disobeyed and turned physical. DBKL said other plainclothes enforcement personnel intervened to prevent the vendor from further assaulting the first officer.
However, DBKL continued to receive flak as the video of the scuffle showed the vendor being pinned on the ground and held in a chokehold by a plainclothes enforcement officer.
Several politicians from both sides of the political divide have criticised DBKL, highlighting the struggle of small businessmen and hawkers to earn a living, including from Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s political secretary, Kamil Munim, who called DBKL’s actions unacceptable. – March 30, 2025