Kuala Lampur, March 31 -- First came Pakcik Petai (petai uncle) in Port Dickson. Now, it's Abang Belon (balloon brother) in Kuala Lumpur.

In both cases, enforcement action against unlicensed vendors ended in viral controversy, followed by politicians scrambling to offer help.

Both incidents suggest that the long-term solution lies in local council elections.

Petai hawker rewarded

Petai vendor Mohd Noor Saad was operating illegally in front of a supermarket over a week ago when enforcement officers from the Port Dickson Municipal Council (MPPD) arrived.

In a viral video, he flung his goods onto the road in frustration, gaining nationwide sympathy online.

As "damage control," none other than the MPPD president and the local Sri Tanjun...