Khirunnizam Mohd Lani is a 38-year-old political science graduate living in Kuala Lumpur.
He works as a delivery man, sending letters and other items using his bicycle. His courier company, called Velo Express and based in KL, is made up of people who dedicate their lives to cycling.
One day last week, he chained his RM3,000 bike to a bus stop while doing his rounds near Wisma Central in Jalan Ampang.
While he was away, City Hall officers cut the lock to his bike and carted it away to a pound in Cheras.
At the pound, he was horrified to find his bike had been badly damaged. He had been slapped with a RM300 fine, compound and storage fee. On top of that, he had to wait for seven days to retrieve his bike.
The story, which was one of the most read on NST Online, drew a lot of reaction from Netizens.
Questions have been raised about the high-handed tactics of City Hall enforcement officers.
“Patutnya KL bicycle friendly. Kesian mamat ini” (KL should be a bicycle-friendly city. Pity the guy), according to a comment posted to NST Online Facebook.
There are also people who supported City Hall.
“The lack of bicycle parking bays is not a reason for anyone to simply park their bicycle anywhere they like,” Khairul Ilmy said in an email to me.
Federal Territories Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor and KL Mayor Datuk Seri Mhd Amin Nordin Abd Aziz may think this cyclist issue is not a big deal.
But if they are very serious about enforcing rules, how about going after illegal hawkers or people who park their cars illegally or litterbugs or gambling dens?
For sure, there are cities much cleaner and liveable than KL.
A veteran newsman, A Jalil Hamid believes that a good journalist should be curious and sceptical at the same time