KUALA LUMPUR: The newly appointed Mayor of Kuala Lumpur, Datuk Seri Maimunah Mohd Sharif, is expected to bring "new energy" and strengthen the confidence of the Kuala Lumpur City Hall machinery to provide better services to the city’s residents, says Lembah Pantai MP Fahmi Fadzil.
He also expressed confidence that the hopes of Kuala Lumpur MPs could be realised by Maimunah, given her extensive experience.
"I believe she is an expert, literally an expert in urban planning issues, so let's give her a bit of time, and I think she clocked in only this morning.
"So, let's give her some time but also offer her support. This is the first female Mayor, which is historic," he said.
Fahmi, who is also the Communications Minister, was speaking to reporters after witnessing the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama) and the Social Security Organisation (Socso) aimed at expanding social protection for freelance media practitioners through the Self-Employment Social Security Scheme at Wisma Bernama on Thursday (Aug 15).
Maimunah, 63, was appointed as the new Mayor of Kuala Lumpur effective Thursday, replacing Datuk Kamarulzaman Mat Salleh, who retired.
Datuk Seri Maimunah has received various national and international recognitions, including being named a Malaysian Urban Planning Icon by the Housing and Local Government Ministry; Honorary Member of the Royal Town Planner’s Institute, United Kingdom; Honorary Fellow, United Cities of Local Government (UCLG); and Ambassador of His Majesty King Charles III (King’s Foundation) for sustainable urbanisation in Commonwealth countries.
She also served as the executive director of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat), UN-Habitat, based in Nairobi, Kenya, for six years, and was the first Asian woman to hold the position. - Bernama
