COMMENT | Silence for ordinary rakyat, sympathy for the powerful

COMMENT | Sometimes, it is not what you say that matters. It is who says it. That thought came to mind when I read about the Wisma Semantan development being “put on hold”.

The statement from the Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) was polished and predictable. The project, they said, is still under review.

It must comply with a long list of technical requirements: traffic studies, environmental assessments, and social impact reports. Everything will be examined carefully before any decision is made. It sounds responsible, fair, and systematic.

But we have seen this movie before. Projects in less glamorous neighbourhoods rarely receive such attention. When residents in ordinary areas protest, their complaints...