By all means, let’s be clear from the start — no one in a civilised society should be wielding a machete in broad daylight, much less threatening public officers with it. The man who did so in Desa Pandan deserves to be held accountable under the law. But once we acknowledge the severity of his crime, we must also acknowledge something else: the depth of desperation that must have driven him to that moment.
According to police reports, the man — a Malay individual — charged at enforcement officers with a machete during a joint demolition operation led by Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL), supported by the police, TNB and Syabas. The target? Stalls allegedly built illegally on pedestrian walkways. DBKL claims everything was done by the book. The hawkers were notified in January to vacate, with a final warning on July 4. And yet, on July 15, the demolition had to be halted due to the man’s violent outburst.
Wangsa Maju district police chief ACP Mohamad Lazim Ismail told Scoop that the man arrived at the scene and began provoking DBKL personnel while brandishing a long machete.
“At about 11.17am, the suspect — a Malay man — approached the enforcement team, shouting insults and swinging a machete in their direction,” he said.
“The suspect’s aggressive behaviour posed a serious threat to the officers on duty. Fortunately, several members of the public managed to calm him down before the situation escalated further.”
Police later seized the machete from the scene, and the man was taken into custody. He is currently being investigated under Section 353 of the Penal Code, which relates to the use of criminal force to deter a public servant from carrying out their duties.
“The case is still under investigation,” Lazim added.
In a way, the man achieved his short-term objective: the demolition was postponed. But at what cost? Brandishing a weapon in Malaysia isn’t just a headline-grabbing act — it is a potentially life-altering decision. Jail time, criminal records, and the social stigma of being "that guy with the parang" will likely follow him for years to come. And so we must ask: what would make a man risk all that for a few more weeks of stall operation?
Desperation. Dignity. Possibly a deep sense of betrayal.
According to DBKL, it did no wrong. It needed the area on Jalan 2/76 to be cleared to carry out road works and upgrade facilities and it had engaged and informed the stakeholders, including the hawkers and their associations, of its plans.
But what about the other side of the story? What did the stall holders have to say about the entire episode ?
It’s hard to imagine a person going to such extremes unless the stall was something of personal significance — a livelihood built over years, perhaps even decades. And if the stall had been standing there for years, was it truly illegal? Or merely unofficial? There's a crucial difference.
DBKL insists that the stalls had no legal standing, but if a structure has existed in plain sight for years, possibly with semi-permanent build quality, under the noses of enforcement authorities, doesn’t that imply some form of tacit consent? Perhaps unofficial “fees” were collected — a practice not unheard of in urban Malaysia. If so, then those stall owners, including the man with the parang, have a legitimate grievance. If rent — official or unofficial — has been collected, does that not grant some rights to occupy?
And if roadworks and upgrades are now needed — fair enough. DBKL has every right to develop public infrastructure. But did they tell stall owners that they can return after the work is completed? If not, why not?
More importantly, did DBKL do more than just inform? Did they listen?
Sending a letter to vacate is not engagement. Giving final notice is not consultation. True engagement means sitting down with those affected and understanding their circumstances. Did they ask if the stall owners had any proof of payment — even unofficial ones? Did they offer relocation plans? Did they try to allocate a MyKiosk or another legal avenue for them to continue earning a living?
Stallholders are not unreasonable people. They are, by nature, survivors — hardworking, adaptable, and often operating on the fringes of legality simply because that is where they’re allowed to exist. Most would have accepted temporary inconvenience, a few months of lost income, or even modest relocation costs — if they were treated with dignity and fairness.
Because this isn’t just about livelihood — it’s about respect.
Imagine watching foreigners freely operate stalls in the same city where you, a citizen, are told to pack up and leave after building a business for years. No warning for years. No regulation. And then one fine morning — demolition.
If the authorities want to stop illegal stalls, the answer is simple: act early. Take action within weeks or months of the first sign of an illegal structure. Don't allow it to become semi-permanent. Don't wait until livelihoods are entangled, and lives are dependent. Because by then, the moral equation changes.
Yes, DBKL has the right to act. But rights work both ways. And just as citizens are expected to respect the law, authorities must respect the lives and efforts of those who survive on the edge.
What we saw in Desa Pandan was a man breaking the law. But it was also a man breaking down. And while we condemn his weapon, we must understand the wound that made him reach for it.
Because if we don’t, more people will feel that in this country, only the desperate scream loud enough to be heard — and that the only way to buy a seat at the table is to swing a parang.
TheRealNehruism (nehru.sathiamoorthy@gmail.com) is a content creator under the Newswav Creator programme, where you get to express yourself, be a citizen journalist, and at the same time monetize your content & reach millions of users on Newswav. Log in to creator.newswav.com and become a Newswav Creator now!
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