KUALA LUMPUR: A Private Members’ Bill has been submitted by government backbenchers from Kuala Lumpur to amend the Federal Capital Act 1960, aiming to introduce greater democratic oversight in the city’s governance.
Setiawangsa Member of Parliament Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad said the amendment is intended to follow through with recommendations made by the bipartisan Public Accounts Committee (PAC) in August.
“The PAC’s recommendations call for a shift in Kuala Lumpur’s governance from being under an all-powerful mayor appointed by the Federal Government to a councillor-system, similar to other local governments under the Local Government Act 1976,” he said during a press conference held at the Parliament media room here, on Thursday (Nov 20).
Nik Nazmi said that the Bill is designed to be inclusive, ensuring that even when the majority of Kuala Lumpur MPs do not belong to the Federal Government, the voices of the city’s residents will still be represented in DBKL (Kuala Lumpur City Hall).
“Today, the DBKL has reached high-income status. The City Council is budgeted to spend RM2.83bil in 2025, slightly below Selangor but ahead of Johor.
“However, it is arguable that almost unlimited authority is vested with the individual mayor, traditionally a civil servant, with only minimal checks-and-balances from the Board of Advisors and the Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department in charge of the Federal Territories.
“A practical pathway towards greater democratisation is to implement the PAC’s recommendation for a councillor-system, where the mayor will serve as first among equals alongside councillors appointed by Kuala Lumpur MPs,” he said.
Nik Nazmi also added that with the passing of the Bill, it would fulfil Pakatan Harapan’s manifesto which pledged that the government: “will work hard to empower democracy and transparency in DBKL through systematic methods.”
“This effort will ensure that all Malaysians can elect representation that is reliable, inclusive and represents the interests of the people, not the developers.
“It should also be noted that 10 out of Kuala Lumpur’s 11 MPs won based on this manifesto,” he said.
Nik Nazmi was speaking on behalf of seven KL MPs including Seputeh MP Teresa Kok, Wangsa Maju MP Zahir Hassan, Cheras MP Tan Kok Wai and Kepong MP Lim Lip Eng who were present at the press conference.
Nik Nazmi also said the lawmakers were confident that the Federal Government and the Dewan Rakyat would examine the Bill seriously as part of broader reform efforts to strengthen accountability and transparency in the administration of the capital.
“We (the Kuala Lumpur MPs) have submitted it as a Private Member’s Bill, and we will see when it is listed on the Order Paper, but ultimately it is the government’s decision.
“But our hope is that at the very least it can be debated. Because once it is debated, the minister will have to respond,” he added.
Meanwhile, Cheras MP Tan Kok Wai said that the current parliamentary sitting is the right time for it to be debated.
“We hope it will be debated in this sitting; if not, the Bill must still be given due consideration by the minister in charge of federal territories because this is a progressive step towards ensuring good governance.
“It will also enhance transparency, accountability, and representation for Kuala Lumpur residents, and ensure that the interests of city dwellers are duly reflected in city administration.
“The appointment of council members is a commitment under the Pakatan manifesto in the last general election. I hope this matter is given priority, and the Federal Territories MPs have previously put forward similar proposals, but those proposals have yet to bear fruit,” he added.
On Aug 26, PAC has proposed appointing council members to Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) to strengthen checks and balances in government land development in the capital.
Its chairman Datuk Mas Ermieyati Samsudin, who is also a Bersatu MP, said PAC’s 12 key findings on land development in Kuala Lumpur included the discovery that the role of the Federal Territory Advisory Board under the Federal Capital Act 1960 (FCA) was limited.
She also revealed that repeated violations were found, involving the Kuala Lumpur Local Plan (PTKL), leading to uncontrolled development and leaving room for various parties to apply for projects.
