With GE15 now over, Kuala Lumpur residents have high expectations of their new MPs, especially in terms of transparency and accountability. In addition to this, they want a local in the role of FT minister.
NOW that the winners of the 15th General Election have been announced, it is time for newly-elected representatives to deliver on their campaign manifesto.
In Kuala Lumpur, the over one million registered voters are keen to ensure their MPs remember their promises and fulfil them.
The 14-day campaign period saw 52 candidates vying for 11 seats in the Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur.
The Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur encompasses 11 parliamentary constituencies.
With several new faces voted in and eight incumbents returning in their constituencies, now is the time to take stock and see that they deliver on their pledges.
StarMetro spoke to city folk on some of the expectations that they have of their newly elected MPs for the next five years.
> An FT minister from Kuala Lumpur
Chief among their wants is for a local to head the Federal Territories Ministry.
“A local Federal Territories Minister will have a better understanding and can appreciate the issues that are affecting us,” said Brickfields Rukun Tetangga chairman SKK Naidu, 56.
“Only if you live in Kuala Lumpur and have experienced the traffic congestion, pollution, flash floods and over-development, can you know what it is like living in this city,” he opined.
Lawrence Yap, a Bukit Jalil resident, agreed and said they have had ministers who did not know the matters affecting the people.
Yap hopes for a minister who has first-hand experience of those issues.
DBKL’s enforcement unit is urged to improve its efficiency, especially in dealing with traders occupying public spaces and pedestrian walkways like this one along Jalan Jalil Perkasa 1 in Bukit Jalil. — Filepic
“Allowing roadside stalls to operate on public walkways and bus stops that caused congestion and allowing mobile stalls to obstruct walkways with chairs and tables is against DBKL by-laws.
“This blatant abuse of rules and regulations must end,” he stressed.
The last three Federal Territories ministers – Khalid Abdul Samad, Tan Sri Annuar Musa and Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim – were not from Kuala Lumpur.
Khalid was the Shah Alam MP, Annuar was the MP of Ketereh in Kelantan, while Shahidan was Arau MP (Perlis).
> Listen to people’s views
Kuala Lumpur folk are very clear on the need for accountability and good governance by their elected representatives.
“We want to participate in the decision-making process,’’ said long-time resident Dr Christopher Nicholas, 65.
“To be accountable, they need to be open and transparent. We want to see a more open and accountable Federal Territories Ministry and Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL),” he said.
“If DBKL is going to build bridges in my neighbourhood or approve high-rises in my backyard, at least tell us first and give us all the facts and figures. They must share the information,” he added.
M. Viknendran, 53, wants his MP to push for more public engagement between the residents and the local authority before carrying out any project.
“The participation of citizens in the decision-making process must be the goal,” added the Bangsar resident.
> More efficient government agencies
Marzuki Ahmad, from Bandar Tasik Selatan in Cheras, wants to see better service from agencies like DBKL, SWCorp, the Road Transport Department and the Drainage and Irrigation Department.
“There must be follow-up action for each complaint made, especially from DBKL’s enforcement unit. We want to see their officers carrying out enforcement without fear,” he said.
A resident of Taman Titiwangsa, who requested to be identified only as Patma, wants DBKL to stop allowing petty traders to occupy parking lots in his area.
Viknendran says citizen participation in the decision-making process must be the goal.
“We pay taxes for a clean and peaceful environment.
“Having to deal with congestion and rubbish has affected our peace of mind and quality of life.
“It is time we get a minister and a mayor who are willing to make hard decisions and not be swayed by politics,” Patma added.
> Stop politicking, start working
Dozens of people interviewed by StarMetro also want their MPs to stop playing politics and interfering with the work of government agencies.
“Lawmakers should not take sides in any matter and must remain neutral in any community dispute,” said Mokhtar Sudin from Wangsa Maju.
“Don’t support people who break the law. If a law is broken, then let the authorities take action,” he said, referring to the illegal stalls that have cropped up in his neighbourhood.
Naidu wants an elected representative from Kuala Lumpur to head the FT Ministry.
“Likewise, we want to see less political interference in DBKL by the Federal Territories Minister,” said CS Tan, 62, from Taman United in Jalan Kelang Lama.
“Leave issues like liquor licence and entertainment licence to the local authorities,” he said.
> KL needs an elected mayor
The Selamatkan Kuala Lumpur (SKL) Movement is advocating sustainable growth and development to protect the city and its future.
To this end, the movement believes it is time that the residents are allowed to elect their mayor.
“It is time to democratise DBKL, by having an elected mayor, to ensure effective community participation and freeze any amendments to the Kuala Lumpur City Plan 2020,” said SKL chairman Datuk M. Ali.
“My message to our elected officials and the Kuala Lumpur mayor is simple -- there must be no decision without engagement with the community.
“The mayor, DBKL and the new MPs must engage and have more town halls with residents. Just walk the talk,’’ said Ali.
Wong says an elected mayor will work harder for the people.
SKL’s objective is to work in partnership with the authorities to make Kuala Lumpur an environmentally sustainable and liveable city for the benefit of all residents and future generations.
It hopes to do this by ensuring that residents’ views and voices are heard and taken into consideration in the development and growth of the city.
Taman Desa Residents Association chairman Wong Chan Choy, 61, is also pushing for an elected mayor for Kuala Lumpur.
“An elected mayor will work harder for the people as they are not bound to any political master.
“Furthermore you have better accountability arising from direct election,” said Wong.
On polling day, Pakatan Harapan won 10 parliamentary seats in Kuala Lumpur, with Barisan Nasional taking one.
DAP won five seats – Bukit Bintang, Cheras, Seputeh, Segambut and Kepong while PKR won Lembah Pantai, Wangsa Maju, Bandar Tun Razak, Setiawangsa and Batu.
Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, who was the former Pandan MP, won the Bandar Tun Razak seat while newcomer Zahir Hassan won in Wangsa Maju.
Former Titiwangsa MP Datuk Seri Johari Ghani from Barisan Nasional managed to wrest back the seat with a 4,623 majority vote, the lowest in the Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur.
A total of 1,111,693 people in Kuala Lumpur voted in GE15.
