What was supposed to be a quiet night along Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman (Jalan TAR) in KL turned chaotic when a group of unlicensed hawkers clashed with enforcement officers from Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) on Friday night (28 Mar).
Tension escalates over balloon confiscation
The incident, which has since gone viral on social media, reportedly began when DBKL officers launched a large-scale operation to crack down on unlicensed vendors operating in the area ahead of Hari Raya Aidilfitri.
One of the videos shows several DBKL enforcement officers attempting to confiscate a bunch of balloons being sold by an unlicensed hawker.
However, things quickly took a turn when the vendor refused to hand over the items, resulting in a physical altercation between both parties.
At one point, multiple DBKL officers were seen working together to subdue the hawker and pin him to the ground, much to the shock of onlookers.
“Don’t do this!” – Others try to intervene
Several other individuals, believed also to be unlicensed hawkers, were seen at the scene pleading with the officers to stop.
Their attempts to de-escalate the situation unfortunately only added to the growing tension, leading to a larger crowd gathering.
The situation became so intense that a full-blown commotion broke out along the street, causing public alarm.
Some netizens have also expressed their empathy towards the vendors, emphasizing that they are only selling balloons to earn a living.
Why the sudden raid?
According to comments from netizens under the viral videos, the strict action was taken due to the increasing number of unlicensed vendors setting up shop in the area as Aidilfitri approaches.
Sinar Harian contacted the police for further confirmation regarding the incident. As of now, DBKL has yet to issue an official statement on the matter.
MORE TO FOLLOW
Read more:
