As Malaysia welcomes the world to our doorstep for the Visit Malaysia 2026 campaign, the global spotlight is fixed on Kuala Lumpur – not merely on our iconic skyline, but on the integrity of our urban governance.
We have, over the years, cultivated a reputation for world-class development and progressive management. Yet, there exists an institutional blind spot that threatens to erode this standing.
While I commend Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Federal Territories) Hannah Yeoh and Kuala Lumpur mayor Datuk Seri Fadlun Mak Ujud for their progressive leadership, we must confront an uncomfortable truth: the recent clean-up of Hicks Mansion in Kuala Lumpur is not a victory. It is merely a symptom of a 15-year cycle of systemic failure that we can no longer afford to ignore.
During my tenure on the Kuala Lumpur City Hall Advisory Board (2023–2025), alongside colleagues such as Carmen Leong and former mayors Datuk Seri Kamarulzaman Mat Salleh and Datuk Seri Maimunah Mohd Sharif, we consistently pushed for action against the management of Hicks Mansion. Yet, the situation persists as a textbook example of institutional rot.
I believe the management of Hicks Mansion is fully aware that when conditions reach an intolerable threshold, the authorities will eventually feel compelled to step in to “clean up” the mess at public expense. By acting as a recurring safety net, the authorities are, however inadvertently, subsidising this ongoing negligence.
Past interventions by City Hall, including cleaning the site and erecting hoardings, are merely cosmetic. Even after these efforts, the persistent, unbearable odour remains, proving that a reactive strategy which fails to address the root administrative problem is fundamentally flawed.
I remember very clearly when a former mayor offered a corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiative to improve conditions, only to have the management take advantage of that goodwill to further its own agenda rather than improve the quality of life of residents.
If a property is intentionally allowed to deteriorate through a failure to fix basic infrastructure, the management is effectively driving down its value to force other owners to sell, clearing the way for future commercial redevelopment plans.
The state of the building is so severe that it has become a haven for undocumented migrants. An enforcement operation in December 2024 revealed that people were living in common areas – a situation the management claims to be “unaware of”. This is highly improbable.
The public has rightly pointed out that City Hall seems to act only when issues go “viral”. Despite years of meetings on these recurring issues, the management continues to operate with total impunity.
This is not an isolated incident. We are seeing a concerning pattern of inconsistency in how the Commissioner of Buildings (COB) exercises its authority.
In the case of the Seksyen 2 Flat in Bandar Baru Wangsa Maju, despite clear evidence that the management failed in its primary responsibilities – most notably in sanitation and rubbish collection – the COB allowed multiple postponements of its annual general meetings (AGMs). By granting these extensions, the regulatory body effectively allowed a failing management to remain in power, prolonging the misery of residents.
The government’s hands are not tied. Under the Strata Management Act 2013, the COB is the “source of power”. Empowered by the Housing and Local Government Ministry, it is not merely an advisory body; it is a regulatory powerhouse equipped with the full weight of the law.
Section 86 of the Act grants the COB the authority to intervene decisively – including the power to appoint a managing agent to take over a building if the management body is deemed dysfunctional or negligent. Yet, we see these statutory powers remain largely dormant. We see meetings held and raids conducted, but the core issue remains untouched because the COB refuses to exercise its power. This is not a lack of power; it is a lack of political and administrative will to exercise the mandate already vested in the commissioner.
The truth is, we cannot continue with this reactive approach. The case of Hicks Mansion is a significant affront to our Visit Malaysia 2026 campaign. Situated right in the heart of our premier tourist district in the Jalan Alor vicinity, the building stands as a stark contradiction to the vibrant, clean and welcoming image we are promoting to the world. We cannot afford to have such blatant neglect displayed in one of our most visible areas.
Based on years of poor records and consistent failure to comply with multiple notices – at both Hicks Mansion and Wangsa Maju – I strongly urge the COB to stop hiding behind red tape.
It is time to exercise the enforcement powers granted by law. The COB must step up, appoint independent agents where necessary and take over buildings where management has clearly failed in order to restore order.
I believe the current leadership has the political will to address this rot, which in the past was often swept under the rug. After all, my years spent on the KL City Advisory Board were dedicated to preparing Kuala Lumpur for the Asean Summit 2025 and Visit Malaysia 2026.
Seeing buildings and properties in key areas of the city continue to deteriorate is something I cannot stand by and watch. I am happy to provide further details or assist the relevant offices in reviewing records from our previous meetings as well as our site visits.
The mandate is clear, the evidence is undeniable and the public is watching. Those who have the power to act need to step up and carry out the job they are legally empowered to do.
The views expressed here are the personal opinion of the writer and do not represent that of Twentytwo13.
