I'm poor, but that's no licence for DBKL to treat me like garbage, says vendor as doctor warns of paralysis

Muhammad Zaimuddin Azlan, a balloon vendor who was assaulted by Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) enforcement personnel several days before Hari Raya, has fought back accusations against him as well as claims that he has a criminal background, as a doctor warns that he may be at risk of paralysis due to bone fractures suffered as a result of the beating.

"On March 28, I was selling balloons at Sogo. I was not selling drugs. If I am a former criminal, does that mean I can be hit, kicked, stabbed, grabbed by the neck, and treated in a cruel manner?" said Zaimuddin, now wheelchair-bound, during a press conference yesterday accompanied by his mother Hasnah Mat Isa and lawyer Rafique Rashid.

"If I have previous cases, is that a licence for whoever feels like it to hit me? If I am poor and in difficulty due to those previous cases, does that mean DBKL can treat me like garbage?" he asked.

A private medical officer Dr Mohd Hafidz Rizal Amran who was also at the press conference said if not treated correctly, Zaimuddin could suffer.

"When bones fracture, a gap forms between T11 and L1, causing an imbalance in the spinal structure. This condition can cause nerves to become pinched and injured," he said.

Zaimuddin said he had sold balloons on a part-time basis as there was not much demand during the month of Ramadan for his normal work as a golf caddy.

He said he had previously sought to earn some money in order to treat a hernia.

Zaimuddin was referring to media reports as well as social media postings from pro-government cybertroopers about his alleged criminal record of 13 drug-related cases.

But he said he would let his lawyer to respond to the allegations.

His assault in the middle of crowds of Hari Raya shoppers drew attention after a video went viral, showing an altercation with several DBKL enforcement personnel at Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman.

DBKL, which initially defended its actions, later placed three enforcement officers on leave after widespread criticism of the assault, with many on social media drawing parallel to an incident in Tunisia more than a decade ago, when fruit vendor Mohamed Bouazizi set himself on fire after his stall was confiscated by authorities, an act which became a catalyst for the Tunisian revolution and the wider Arab Spring.

Following public outrage, Zaimuddin was visited by the Pahang royalty.

Yesterday, he lodged a report at the Dang Wangi police headquarters.

In his report, the 28-year-old said he would have to wear a brace for three months because of the assault.

Zaimuddin, who lives in Sungai Besi, also denied being rude to the officers, saying he had only defended his sale of the balloons.

"I did not fight back. I didn't do anything. I was not aggressive. I wanted to run away," he said in his report.