When the small are targeted, the big walk free

 

From Mahathir Rais

A video of a balloon seller being roughly handled by DBKL enforcement officers has gone viral, sparking anger among Malaysians.

The footage shows a simple street vendor. Not a criminal. Not a threat. Just someone trying to make a living by selling balloons. His so-called “offence”? Not having a business licence.

Of course, rules are there for a reason. We need order, especially in a city as busy as Kuala Lumpur. But rules should be applied with fairness and common sense.

What happened in that video is not just about one man. It shows something bigger. A system that seems to come down hard on the small but turns a blind eye to the big fish.

Why is it that small traders, usually from poor or struggling backgrounds, face harsh treatment while illegal businesses operating in broad daylight are left alone?

This is not about supporting illegal hawkers. It is about asking honest questions. If enforcement teams have time to go after a balloon seller, surely they can also focus on all the unlicensed entertainment spots, dodgy nightclubs, and restaurants pretending to be something else.

Let’s not pretend we don’t see them. These places are everywhere. Some use restaurant licences but actually run karaoke lounges. Others are just a front for activities involving foreign GROs and all kinds of vice from prostitution to drug use.

These aren’t baseless accusations. News reports and investigations have proven it.

And yet, many of them continue to operate like nothing is wrong.

So, where is the same energy that we saw when chasing down a balloon seller? Why is enforcement so quick and firm with the small traders, but slow or missing when it comes to these bigger and more serious offenders?

People are starting to feel that the law is not being applied equally. That it is only strict when it is easy. That is not just unfair – it also damages public trust.

How many of these entertainment outlets have proper licences? How often are they checked? Is anyone really keeping track?

Meanwhile, Malaysians trying to earn an honest living get fined, chased, and sometimes even humiliated on the spot. Their goods are taken. Their stalls are destroyed. Not because they are dangerous. But because they are easy to go after.

The double standard becomes even clearer when foreign nationals are seen running unlicensed businesses without much interference. In some areas, whole rows of shops are run this way, selling food, clothes, and more. Why is enforcement so slow here?

We are not saying there should not be rules. But the rules must be applied fairly. Firm when needed but always fair. Laws should protect the people, not punish the powerless.

The balloon seller’s story is more than just a viral clip. It is a mirror of what is wrong with how things are done. It shows us that the system needs to change. That justice must apply to everyone. Not just to those who cannot fight back.

The rakyat are not asking for much. Just fairness. Because when the system is fair, it earns our respect. And when people feel respected, they follow the law not out of fear but out of trust. - FMT

Mahathir Rais is the former federal territories Bersatu secretary.

The views expressed are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect those of MMKtT.