COMMENT | I grew up in Kepong with a very strong dislike of Barisan Nasional (BN) politics.

Under such conditions, it is no wonder that after 2008, my allegiance to BN under former prime minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi easily swung towards the new coalition. For me, enough was enough.

As a young man, I was angry with the attitude of Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL). To me, they represent the BN government and its failure to provide good service to the people.

Except for certain individuals with the city council, DBKL was a big disappointment to me. Complaints lodged to its various departments failed to receive the appropriate attention, unless I hit the keys of my word processor and clicked my camera button to capture the ugly sight of an unattended complaint.

For example, a section of Jalan Kepong has been dug up time and again, and because it is badly resurfaced, the patch becomes very uncomfortable to drive on (see picture).

Only after the complaint was highlighted in the newspapers, would DBKL (therefore, the government) do something about the problems.

We are taxpayers, too

Because Kepong is traditionally a DAP stronghold where the majority of the residents are middle class Chinese, this constituency has been apparently neglected by the DBKL.

BN supporters, including my friends in the media circles, would often ridicule me, saying that Kepong was an opposition area, therefore, it was not surprising that it was badly neglected by the government.

I kept quiet back then because I wanted to remain apolitical, but these days, to these people, I would say, “We are taxpayers, too! In fact, we are paying higher taxes compared to most of you!”...