Netizens Call Out The “Double Standard” Over JKR’s Apology To KJ’s Pothole Mishap

By Karissa Lund  •  28 Dec 2020 in News

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ICYMI, minister Khairy Jamaluddin sustained bruises on his face during his bicycle ride after his bicycle hit a pothole which landed him in a ditch.

According to NST, the Rembau member of parliament shared his ordeal when he uploaded several pictures on his Twitter with the caption, “Pothole, ditch, KJ. 2020 keeps giving”.  However, he did not identify the exact time and location where the incident took place.

Meanwhile, the minister’s aide confirmed that KJ had only sustained minor injuries and that it was nothing serious.

Pothole, ditch, KJ. 2020 keeps giving. https://t.co/BjZHuo4cvP pic.twitter.com/WZJJn1q8X0

— Khairy Jamaluddin 🇲🇾🌺 (@Khairykj) December 27, 2020

Slightly more than five hours later at 8:42pm, the Kuala Langat Public Works Department, JKR responded to Khairy on Twitter. It said: “Kuala Langat JKR apologises for the incident that befell the minister, will take immediate action over the issue and pray for YB’s speedy recovery.”

After witnessing the swift response, netizens became riled-up! Twitter users were quick to express their disgust over the apathy shown by the authorities in patching up potholes in roads under their jurisdiction.

Take a look: 

Yang ni semua, JKR tak mintak maaf pun.

Nyawa para marhaen mmg tak berharga ya?

Fed up betul lah… pic.twitter.com/D3SjHhmsje

— #MeowMeow (@FiqhTabayyun) December 28, 2020

I’m sorry that happened to you, YB. but immediately when someone of your status gets into a common accident, JKR menggelupur & start to act. My sister’s colleague died running over a pothole & left a pregnant wife. No apology or redress by JKR. Do politicians’ lives matter more? https://t.co/lCldcu4ZPk

— Miss Atomic Bomb (@SyarifahAmin) December 28, 2020

The problem is not KJ. The problem is JKR and its feudalistic culture and biased treatment towards VIPs.

JKR’s motto is Jasa Kepada Rakyat. Looks like they weren’t being clear about which rakyat they’re talking about.

— Brian (@brianlian) December 28, 2020

It shouldn’t take an MP getting into an accident for JKR to do their job. Not only in Hulu Langat, but everywhere. Even in the middle of KL, right at the heart of commerce, there are potholes and uneven surfaces.

Don’t get us started with MRR2 & the roads in Selangor; Ampang etc https://t.co/dbOftBWW4s

— Faizal Hamssin (@faizalhamssin) December 27, 2020

Put ministers on minimum wage, make em ride a bike to work. Tahukah anda, alasan paling pundek JKR/PBT akan bagi bila buat aduan jalan berlubang ialah: “Lambat lagi encik, kontraktor ni buat kerja lump sum”. Jimbit dia lump sum. pic.twitter.com/aIxWwkASvs

— Mamu™ 🇲🇾 (@The_Mamu) December 28, 2020

Corruption has physically injured a politician. https://t.co/LgUCKOKmgl

— ファズリ 🔞 (@tenoq) December 27, 2020

Mampoihla JKR…JKR pulak hentam contractor, contractor pulak hentam subcon, subcon pulak hentam super subcon, bos super subcon hentam underpaid overworked engineer dia, engineer hentam mandor… last last brader yang tukang cedok tar dari lori kena pecat https://t.co/TDksomsf1z

— Ахырф (@axyrff) December 27, 2020

Because it was KJ you apologise profusely.

If that is the case we need more ministers, MPs and ADUN to become victims of bad roads so actions will be taken swiftly to repair them.

APOLOGISE TO THE PEOPLE! https://t.co/AHs019VEXs

— Ahmad Ridhuan 이도환 🇲🇾 (@theahmadridhuan) December 27, 2020

The dire conditions of roads have been highlighted many times before by the community. One such individual even placed a tombstone in a pothole to emphasise how this unresolved matter can cause deaths.

This issue shouldn’t just be taken seriously when a member of parliament is involved, it should be taken seriously regardless of who made the complaint.