Talk is rife that Mahadi’s tenure as KL mayor extended

DESPITE a lack of information from the Federal Territories Ministry on the post of Kuala Lumpur mayor, talk is rife that the tenure of mayor Datuk Seri Mahadi Che Ngah has been extended for six months.

However, both the ministry’s Corporate Communications Department as well as Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) said they have not been informed about the matter.

However, Kepong MP Lim Lip Eng told StarMetro that he was informed by reliable sources that Mahadi was given a six-month extension.

“When I heard about it, I congratulated him on the extension, and he responded with a thank you,’’ Lim said when contacted.

“So that’s how I know his contract was renewed.”

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Echoing Lim’s statement was Cheras MP Tan Kok Wai, who said that he too had congratulated Mahadi on his contract extension.

“I heard the news from a reliable source. Let’s just say that the source was not an ordinary man on the street,’’ Tan said when contacted.

“I am not surprised by the renewal. Mahadi’s job as a town planner is crucial and his expertise is still needed as he was involved in the Kuala Lumpur City Plan 2020,’’ added Tan.

Lembah Pantai MP Fahmi Fadzail said he too heard rumours that Mahadi’s tenure was extended, but questioned why the FT Ministry was being secretive about the matter.

“People should be told about it,’’ he added.

Attempts to get confirmation from Mahadi proved futile.

Mahadi’s tenure as mayor expired last month.

Mahadi, who served as the 13th mayor of the capital city, came back from retirement to take on the two-year contract on Sept 30, 2020.

After having served in DBKL for over 35 years, Mahadi retired as its executive director (Planning) in 2018.

Due to his impeccable service record, he was brought back on contract to serve as advisor to his predecessor Datuk Seri Nor Hisham Ahmad Dahlan on planning matters pertaining to the Draft Kuala Lumpur City Plan 2020.

When Nor Hisham’s contract expired, Mahadi was appointed as mayor.

With just a few days remaining before his term expired, there were several candidates who were tipped to be the next mayor.

Two names that stood out were Datuk Sulaiman Mohamed, who is DBKL’s executive director (Planning) and Datuk Ibrahim Yusoff, a former DBKL executive director (Socio-economic Development).