THERE have recently been several clashes between members of the public and enforcement officers of the local council, in which the victims are usually the taxpayer. 

Take, for example, the dog catcher from Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) who was let off while the injured party Patrick Khoo was charged in court with “obstructing a public servant from carrying out his duty.” The dog catcher was not hurt at all.

It is believed that the same officer has also had many other complaints filed against him for his aggressive behaviour.  Have these complaints not reached the ears of the department director, one Dr Chihradevi N. Vadivellu?

The law that reads “obstruction of public servants” has often been interpreted to mean anyone who obstructs a law enforcer from carrying out his duty. For example, if the officer enters your home, and tries to force open the bedroom door into where your children are sleeping, and you try to persuade him not to frighten your kids, you can be charged for obstruction, too.

At the end of the day, the judge will have to decide on the merits of the case, but the process is long and stressful for the victims.

Khoo’s case is now under court management and if it goes for trial, it can go all the way to the apex court. 

If the MBPJ does not challenge this at the apex court, or if it fails to argue the case convincingly, many of us may have to live with the inconvenience of having to get down from their cars to open the barrier gate ourselves. 

I believe that many cases involving the local council have gone to court instead of being resolved amicably because the Selangor State Executive Council is weak.

Menteri Besar Amirudin Shari and the local government exco Ng Sze Han should have intervened in those cases. Why did they keep silent? Now many dog lovers are up in arm against both MBPJ and the state government. 

We will be watching to see what happens next. Khoo could be jailed for trying to protect the animals from an aggressive dog catcher. The court decision will set a precedent for future cases. 

I have personally complained to both Amirudin and Ng about a number of issues relating to the local council, but for nearly three years, they have not responded.

Even such a simple matter as road humps that were too steep festered for three years before a new MP Gobind Singh resolved it.

I remember when Ronnie Liu was a state exco. He intervened in a conflict involving the MBPJ and the people. The matter did not have to go to the courts. It was resolved immediately. When I complained to him about the placement of fruit stalls, although reluctantly, Liu moved them to a more suitable place. Since then, more fruit stalls and car wash operators have mushroomed in my neighbourhood, turning turning it into one big mess, and complaints have gone to Gobind. Nothing yet is being done to clear the mess. 

You judge for yourself why we are having so many issues. – April 19, 2023.

* Stephen Ng reads The Malaysian Insight.

* This is the opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insight. Article may be edited for brevity and clarity.