Set Direction Of Development Governance In Kl

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Kuala Lumpur became a Federal Territory on Feb 1, 1974. Our capital city will be celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2024. The federal government has repeatedly outlined a plan and vision to turn Kuala Lumpur into a World-Class City with proper planning based on international standards.
However, this vision to turn Kuala Lumpur into a World-Class City failed as the former federal territory minister from BN, specifically, Tengku Adnan Mansor, refused to implement and gazette the KL City Plan drawn up by urban planning experts.
Instead, Tengku Adnan approved many high-density development projects on ill-suited sites in Kuala Lumpur while he held the federal territory minister portfolio. This disrupted all the planning that had already been done to turn Kuala Lumpur into a World-Class City.

Federal Territories Minister Annuar Musa
Given that Kuala Lumpur will be celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2024, we, the Pakatan Harapan MPs for Kuala Lumpur want to urge Federal Territories Minister Annuar Musa to clearly set the direction of development and governance in Kuala Lumpur. 
He is also urged to foster co-operation between the agencies responsible for Kuala Lumpur’s development with Harapan MPs to co-govern Kuala Lumpur.
This is because we have been democratically chosen by the people in the past 14th general election, and therefore have the legitimacy to represent the voice of Kuala Lumpur residents as well as raise any issues faced in our parliamentary constituencies to both the Kuala Lumpur City Hall (KLCH) and the Federal Government.
Today, we live in an age full of trials and challenges. Kuala Lumpur City really needs good governance as well as a fresh and new vision. Therefore, we urge the FT minister to set up a “Bipartisan Kuala Lumpur 2024 Committee”, draw up plans and policies starting from now until 2024, and govern Kuala Lumpur with the city’s elected representatives.
1) Kuala Lumpur should become an example to other cities in Malaysia
There are many intellectuals and professionals who live and work in Kuala Lumpur. We need to work with them to better understand the challenges that are currently faced and will be faced by Kuala Lumpur and our country, in particular:
To improve city planning, housing policies, and the public transportation system;To address environmental issues as a result of climate change; andTo address the economic downturn as well as create job and business opportunities post Covid-192) Short-term Covid-19 agenda and post-Covid-19
The Federal Territories Ministry and KLCH should play a proactive role in working together with other government agencies to curb the spread of Covid-19 within the Kuala Lumpur community.
This includes implementing a mass testing program and vaccination that will enable the people’s lives to return to normal as soon as possible.
KLCH could follow in the footsteps of the Selangor state government by facilitating the purchase of one million vaccines for Kuala Lumpur residents for the purpose of hastening the vaccination process for the population. 
The government can utilise this Bipartisan Committee to conduct engagement sessions with residents and industry players in the business sector to create a framework and address problems faced by Kuala Lumpur city folks.
3) KLCH becomes an ‘open service’ to allow experienced officers in other government agencies to be transferred to serve with KLCH
We urge the Perikatan Nasional government to change KLCH’s public service from one that is “closed” to one that is “open”.
This means that all KLCH officers will come under the jurisdiction of the Public Service Department (JPA) and the government can therefore transfer more experienced and excellent officers in other government agencies to KLCH, while KLCH officers will also have the opportunity to serve in other government agencies.
Creating an open KLCH service system will surely contribute to governance that is clean, efficient, and has integrity.
4) Democratising Kuala Lumpur
KLCH’s expenditure is the largest of all of the cities in Malaysia. In fact, it is even larger than the expenditure of certain state governments.


In addition, Kuala Lumpur has a larger population compared to Perlis, Melaka, Negeri Sembilan, and Terengganu.


Therefore, the PN government should review the steps needed to roll out democratisation starting in Kuala Lumpur as there are many world-class cities in other countries that hold local government elections for residents to choose their mayor and city council members.
Local government elections are also held in other regional Asean cities like Bangkok, Manila, and Jakarta. Kuala Lumpur is the most suited city to hold Local Government Elections as it is the capital city with its own expenditure and a large population.
Kuala Lumpur also does not have its own state assembly. We urge the PN government to carry out a Local Government pilot election in Kuala Lumpur so that any improvements and the most suitable model may be replicated by other local government authorities.
If Local Government Elections can be realised, then the time has finally come for the Federal Government to abolish the Federal Territory Ministry in order to avoid an overlap in the jurisdiction for Kuala Lumpur’s governance.
Jointly signed by:
Tan Kok Wai (Cheras MP)
Fong Kui Lun (Bukit Bintang MP)
Teresa Kok (Seputeh MP)
Dr Tan Yee Kew (Wangsa Maju MP)
Lim Lip Eng (Kepong MP)
Fahmi Fadzil (Lembah Pantai MP)
Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad (Setiawangsa MP)
P Prabakaran (Batu MP)

Hannah Yeoh (Segambut MP) 
- Mkini


The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor, Pakatan Harapan MPs and do not necessarily represent the views of MMKtT.

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