KUALA LUMPUR – A dance video featuring Petaling Jaya Mayor Datuk Mohamad Zahri Samingon performing a “Gen Z Trend” routine in conjunction with the city’s 20th anniversary celebrations has triggered public criticism online, with some questioning whether the move was fitting for a senior public official.
The clip, posted on the Instagram account @pjcitycouncil, was part of promotional content ahead of Petaling Jaya’s 20th city anniversary celebration. The main event is scheduled for June 20 at Laman MBPJ, Jalan Yong Shook Lin, from 8pm to 11pm.
“Twenty years full of memories, progress, and togetherness. Let’s celebrate the remarkable journey of the city we are proud of,” read the caption accompanying the post.
In the video, Mohamad Zahri also urged residents to take part in the trend using the hashtag #MBPJ20.
“I want the people of Petaling Jaya to do this trend with the hashtag MBPJ20,” he said.
However, the light-hearted performance quickly drew criticism from social media users, many of whom said the mayor should have maintained greater decorum in his public role and focused on unresolved local issues.
Some commenters went as far as calling the video “embarrassing” and “foolish”, arguing that council priorities appeared to be misplaced.
“There’s already so much unfinished work. Yet they still have time for TikTok,” commented Fzrn_hrun.
“Dance all you want… I’ve emailed reports and called repeatedly about complaints regarding stray dogs, and you’re busy dancing?” criticized ungkuraad_alfinko.
“Preserve the dignity and intellectual standing of a Mayor. The success of a local authority is measured by its achievements and the satisfaction of its residents, not by embarrassing trends that are ‘damaging’ (to borrow the Mayor’s own words),” wrote kaksha_71 in the comments section of MBPJ’s Instagram page.
The “Gen Z Trend”, which has been circulating widely on TikTok, features upbeat, synchronised dance movements popularised by Gen Z users.
The video was uploaded to @pjcitycouncil on Friday, June 13, 2026, ahead of the anniversary celebrations. – June 13, 2026