Kuala Lumpur mayor Datuk Seri Mahadi Che Ngah - Filepic/The Star
IT HAS been 10 days since the tenure of Kuala Lumpur mayor Datuk Seri Mahadi Che Ngah expired but there is yet to be any news regarding the new mayor.
When contacted, sources at both Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) and Federal Territories Ministry said they were not told who the new mayor is.
StarMetro contacted a representative from the office of the Chief Secretary to the Government for information, but was informed via WhatsApp that Federal Territories Minister Shahidan Kassim would make an announcement soon.
Attempts to get Mahadi for comment were unsuccessful.
It is learnt that Mahadi has not come into the office as he had not received anything in black and white.
In a statement Monday (Oct 10), Kepong MP Lim Lip Eng said Mahadi's contract expired at the end of last month.
However, he said until today, there had no official announcement on if Mahadi had been given an extension or who his successor is.
He questioned if DBKL was operating on "auto-pilot mode".
"Is DBKL really without a mayor now, especially at a time when the city is facing the threat of flash floods during the monsoon season?"
Lim added that DBKL has a large pool of talent within its ranks to choose.
"I reiterate the call for the restoration of local council elections in Malaysia because it allows the voters to choose their mayors.
"Unlike political appointments, local council elections enable the practice of democracy at the grassroots level and ensure the accountability of local authorities to the people," he said.
StarMetro recently reported that despite Mahadi's contract ending on Sept 30, the FT Ministry had not announced the new KL mayor.
However, Lim told StarMetro that he was informed by reliable sources that Mahadi was given a six-month extension.
