In the
Press.
Housing. Public safety. Climate. A running record of the reporting Mohkam's advocacy has generated — from campus papers to national broadcast.
Selected coverage
Every feature, interview, and cited remark, in the order it ran — from national broadcast to campus papers.
An Immigration Policy Gap
In June 2026, Global News featured Mohkam, a member of the City of Surrey's Liveability, Social Equity, and Public Safety Committee, in a report on the murders of Arnold and Joanne De Jong in Abbotsford, where two of the men convicted in the killings had been in Canada on international student visas. Mohkam said the federal government had identified the immigration policy gap but failed to act on it quickly enough, calling it the same outrage that many Surrey communities feel amid the extortion crisis.
Safeguarding Surrey Students from Criminal Coercion
In March 2026, Global News featured Mohkam to discuss the alarming issue of extortion recruiters targeting vulnerable youths. Mohkam detailed how recruiters are offering international students thousands of dollars to carry out extortion crimes. During the segment, he broke down exactly who is being targeted by these criminal networks and the underlying vulnerabilities that make these students susceptible to recruitment.
Strengthening Community Against Organized Crime
In March 2026, CBC interviewed Mohkam to discuss the alarming trend of international students in Surrey being targeted and recruited by extortion gangs. Mohkam emphasized the need for law enforcement to proactively rebuild public trust, proposing actionable solutions to the Police Board, such as a dedicated WhatsApp tip line for easy reporting and the distribution of police reporting kits to local business owners.
Defending Fundamental Charter Rights
In April 2026, La Presse featured Mohkam's advocacy as a delegate to the national Liberal convention. Mohkam spoke in favour of the federal government taking a stand to protect equal rights across the country. He shared his own personal experience and highlighted that the rights he had as a British Columbian didn't apply to him in Quebec, and that this was a betrayal of the fundamental idea of Canada and the Charter.
Youth Priorities in Surrey's Mayoral Election
In April 2026, Mohkam joined CBC's The Early Edition to weigh in on the Surrey municipal election. He dubbed the race the “Retirees' Election” due to the advanced age of the mayoral candidates. Mohkam urged the nominees to consider the perspectives of the 40% of the city's residents who are under the age of 30, stating that he would like to see investments made into our city's future rather than cuts.
Combatting Organized Crime
In April 2026, the Vancouver Sun featured Mohkam's response to a new FINTRAC report. Speaking as a member of the City of Surrey's Liveability, Social Equity, and Public Safety Committee, Mohkam emphasized that the community had been warning of these tactics for months, calling the report an expensive “I told you so.” He highlighted the lingering fear among residents despite a slowdown in shootings, and called for a coordinated, multi-level government response.
Extortion Gang Recruitment
In March 2026, the Vancouver Sun featured Mohkam's concerns regarding the active recruitment of international students into organized crime networks in Surrey. Speaking in his capacity as a member of the City's Liveability, Social Equity & Public Safety Committee, he urged that, despite a recent decline in overall extortion threats, proactive community outreach and prevention efforts must remain a top priority to protect Surrey.
Policing and Rebuilding Public Trust
In March 2026, Global News covered Mohkam's delegation to the Surrey Police Board. As a member of the City of Surrey's Public Safety Committee, he proposed proactive strategies to build trust between the police and the community amid the ongoing extortion crisis. Mohkam emphasized the need for preventive action to protect local businesses and restore trust.
Preventing Gang Recruitment
In March 2026, CityNews interviewed Mohkam to discuss the ongoing efforts to combat extortion in Surrey and the alarming trend of criminal organizations targeting vulnerable international students. Mohkam highlighted the financial and social pressures that make these students susceptible to recruitment and stressed that leaders must demonstrate sustained effort to rebuild trust within the community.
Push For a Fun City
In March 2026, The Surrey Now featured Mohkam's address to the City of Surrey's finance committee to champion the proposed investments in a new downtown entertainment district, as part of his continued advocacy to push for a vibrant city. He was the primary speaker to the committee. Following his intervention, the budget successfully passed in a 7-2 vote, with two opposition councillors joining the majority in part due to his intervention.
Call for a Federal Extortion Czar
In April 2026, Omni News featured Mohkam's call for the federal government to appoint a national “extortion czar” to combat the nation's growing extortion crisis. Responding to a FINTRAC report that confirmed what Mohkam had been warning about for months, he argued that piecemeal solutions are failing, emphasizing the need for a coordinated, multi-level response that combines a federal czar and tighter financial regulations with proactive police patrols to protect small businesses.
Public Safety in Surrey
In January 2026, City News featured Mohkam's criticism of Councillor Linda Annis's plan to give the SPS 24/7 access to the city's 500+ traffic management cameras. Speaking as a member of the City of Surrey's Liveability, Social Equity & Public Safety Committee, Mohkam called the proposal a “solution looking for a problem,” arguing the plan was a waste of resources that could be better allocated to targeted community patrols.
Traffic Camera Proposal
In January 2026, BCIT News featured Mohkam's criticism of Councillor Linda Annis's plan to give the SPS 24/7 access to the city's 500+ traffic management cameras. Speaking as a member of the City of Surrey's Liveability, Social Equity & Public Safety Committee, Mohkam called the proposal a “waste of resources,” arguing it could be better allocated to targeted community patrols.
Coverage of Extortion-Related Shootings in Surrey
In October 2025, both Global News and CityNews featured Mohkam's call for immediate, measurable public-safety action in Surrey to address the chaos caused by extortion-related shootings in the city. Speaking in his capacity as a member of the City's Liveability, Social Equity & Public Safety Committee, Mohkam urged a visible night-shift surge in hotspot areas, targeted roadblocks around repeat-hit streets, and a storefront safety plan for at-risk businesses.
Extortion Recruitment Warnings
In March 2026, CKNW's The Mike Smyth Show interviewed Mohkam to discuss the alarming trend of international students in Surrey being recruited by extortion gangs for cash payments. Speaking in his capacity as a member of the City's Liveability, Social Equity & Public Safety Committee, Mohkam urged for a dedicated WhatsApp tip line to make it easier for vulnerable community members to safely report threats.
Extortion-Related Shootings
In November 2025, BCIT News 1680 The Crow interviewed Mohkam to discuss how the RCMP and Surrey Police can better address the chaos caused by extortion-related shootings in the city. Speaking in his capacity as a member of the City's Liveability, Social Equity & Public Safety Committee, Mohkam urged leaders to heed calls coming from the community for more police on the ground in the city.
AI Policy and its Impacts on Students
In September 2025, as a student leader, Mohkam was featured in a CityNews report on students and AI. Mohkam called for clear, consistent rules around responsible AI use on campus, and AI literacy training for students and instructors. He emphasized that if the university continues to view AI as taboo, it fails to prepare students for a modern workforce.
UBC Land Use Plan Concerns
In November 2023, as a member of UBC Communities for Sustainable Development (UCSD), Mohkam addressed the UBC Board of Governors to outline core flaws in the Campus Vision 2050 Land Use Plan. He argued the proposal underdelivered on affordability and environmental standards, calling for clear targets on below-market, student-dedicated housing and protection of green space.
Advocacy on Surrey Policing
In March 2023, as a member of the BC Youth Parliament and youth advocate, Mohkam was featured in The Tyee regarding his advocacy on Surrey policing. His ask was simple: the transition process did not consult youth voices, and the transition and its costs were harmful for the city's youth.
City Council Speech on Budget
In March 2023, Mohkam attended a city council meeting to advocate against the proposed city budget. He cautioned that the proposed 17.5% property-tax increase would deepen affordability pressures on families, and called for youth-inclusive public safety policy.
Surrey Health Care Rally
In September 2023, as a community organizer, Mohkam joined fellow residents at Surrey Civic Plaza to call for stronger services at Surrey Memorial Hospital, amplifying a community push for equitable care. The rally, covered by Global News, drew hundreds and spotlighted “decades of chronic underfunding” in the South of Fraser health system.
UBC Driving Study
In September 2023, as a transit and student advocate, Mohkam was featured in a Global News report on a UBC study of self-driving cars and their potential impacts on the road. Mohkam shared his concern that although self-driving cars are innovative, the technology simply isn't there to guarantee pedestrians safety or peace of mind.
