My Frustration with Dr. Mahathir’s Tariff Talk: Fix Malaysia First

 

I was scrolling through X on April 14, 2025, when I stumbled across Dr. Mahathir Mohamad’s post about U.S. tariffs. Under the headline “HIGH TARIFFS,” he admitted he’s no financial guru or economist but still shared his take: Trump’s high tariffs mean hefty taxes on goods and services entering the U.S. Reading that, I felt my blood boil. Here’s a former prime minister weighing in on global economics while I can’t even get a reply from Sabah’s civil servants about a dangerous situation in my neighbourhood. So, I fired off a response, and let me tell you why I’m fed up.

I’m no expert either, but I know enough to ask: if Mahathir says he’s clueless about finance, why comment on Trump’s tariffs? Meanwhile, I’ve been banging my head against a wall for three years, trying to get answers from Sabah’s bureaucrats. My emails to Datuk Rosemary Ahping at the Sabah Housing and Town Development Authority (LPPB) go unanswered. Complaints I lodged with the Sabah Surveyors Department (Lembaga Juruukur Sabah, or LJS) and the Board of Architects Malaysia (Lembaga Arkitek Malaysia, or LAM) over two years ago? I’ve written to Kota Kinabalu City Hall (DBKK) repeatedly, and still nothing. How can Mahathir muse about U.S. policy when basic governance here is a mess? I told him straight: “You can’t even get civil servants to respond to emails, and you want to advise Trump. How silly does that sound?” Honestly, I think he’d be better off tinkering with carpentry than meddling in world affairs.

Let me lay out what’s got me so worked up. On the same day I saw Mahathir’s post, I sent another email to Rosemary Ahping, following up on one from October 2022 that she ignored. It’s about a serious safety issue at Vistana Heights Phase 1. There’s no retaining wall behind houses S1 to S10, just a 20-foot drop that could collapse any day. I pointed out that a soil slide of almost 20 feet already happened near lots SD1 and SD2, messing up plans for other houses. Two redesigned units, D18 and D17, are still unfinished as of April 2025. I’m no engineer, but that sounds like a red flag to me.

The LPPB architect, Andy, told me no wall was needed because tall trees below the slope supposedly keep it stable. Trees! I asked for the soil test or geotechnical report to back that up—nothing. Sabah’s building rules say slopes over 6 feet need proper documentation, so a 20-foot drop with no wall and no report? That’s sketchy. The collapse near SD1 and SD2 proves trees aren’t enough, and I’m worried the whole hill could give way. I want to know if DBKK’s approved plans included a wall and, if so, why it wasn’t built. If it wasn’t planned, how’s it okay to rely on trees when there’s no evidence they’ll hold? I’m demanding answers, a meeting with LPPB, the developer Topwira Corporation, and others, plus an update on those stalled houses. I even warned that I’m gearing up for legal action because this silence is unacceptable.

This isn’t just about a wall—it’s about accountability. Mahathir’s tariff talk feels like a slap in the face when I can’t get a response to save my home from a potential disaster. His post makes me think he’s more interested in global headlines than the struggles we face right here. I’m tired of leaders who pontificate while local issues like Vistana Heights fester. Unanswered emails, unbuilt safety measures, unresolved complaints—that’s my reality, and I bet others feel it too. I don’t care about U.S. tariffs when my government can’t deliver basics. Mahathir needs to focus on Malaysia, not Trump. Until then, I’m left wondering: who’s actually listening to us?