KUALA LUMPUR – A group of backbench MPs representing Kuala Lumpur has strongly backed the recent Public Accounts Committee’s (PAC) report on land development in the capital and is calling for urgent reforms to enhance the city’s governance.
In a joint statement, the MPs, who include representatives from both PKR and DAP, emphasised the inadequacy of the current governance mechanisms, which they argue have failed to deliver optimal outcomes for Kuala Lumpur’s residents and sustainable development.
The MPs particularly highlighted the PAC’s conclusion that the City Advisory Board’s advisory role is insufficient, as it does not hold any decision-making power, leaving land development in the capital without adequate checks and balances.
The MPs also pointed to the Federal Territories Land Working Committee (JKTWP), which is responsible for land ownership decisions, and the fact that it does not involve local MPs in its deliberations.
They argued that this lack of consultation with elected representatives effectively disenfranchises the people of Kuala Lumpur, who have no direct influence over decisions affecting their lives.
According to the MPs, the city’s governance issues have contributed to a range of challenges, from inadequate urban planning to social inequality.
The absence of a robust system of checks and balances in local governance, they say, has undermined the capital’s development and its competitiveness as a global city.
The MPs also pointed to the PAC’s recommendations, which they believe should be taken seriously by the Federal Government. One key recommendation is to return the chairmanship of JKTWP to the Minister of Federal Territories, who would be politically accountable and able to provide policy direction.
The MPs also called for the inclusion of democratically elected MPs from Kuala Lumpur in discussions through a permanent committee, ensuring that local voices are heard and that decisions reflect the needs of the people.
The MPs have also advocated for a broader legislative change, recommending amendments to the Federal Capital Act 1960 and the Federal Territories Planning Act 1982 to introduce a councillor system, which would ensure greater checks and balances in the city’s governance instead of concentrating all power in the hands of the Mayor.
While these recommendations would undoubtedly improve governance, the MPs have stressed the need for a wider, national conversation on the restoration of local council elections in Kuala Lumpur.
They argue that allowing the people of the capital to elect their local representatives would empower them to play a direct role in shaping the future of their city.
“The people of Kuala Lumpur deserve a stronger voice in how their city is governed and in how decisions are made that affect their lives,” the MPs said in a joint statement, calling for the beginning of a more inclusive political dialogue that prioritises the needs and interests of the city’s residents.
The statement was endorsed by the following MPs: Setiawangsa MP Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad (PKR), Cheras MP Tan Kok Wai (DAP), Kepong MP Lim Lip Eng (DAP), Seputeh MP Teresa Kok (DAP), Bukit Bintang MP Fong Kui Lun (DAP), Wangsa Maju MP Zahir bin Hassan (PKR), and Batu MP Prabakaran Parameswaran (PKR). - August 26, 2025
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