KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 14 — Professionalism dictates that a Kuala Lumpur mayor from the opposition will work together with the Barisan Nasional (BN) federal government, just like how Pakatan Harapan state chief ministers cooperate with Putrajaya, opposition lawmakers said today.
Kuala Lumpur MPs also told KL mayor Datuk Mohd Amin Nordin Abdul Aziz, who had reportedly said problems will arise if local elections are held in the capital city as the opposition will likely hold the post of mayor, that the Federal Territories (FT) Ministry was redundant.
“If the mayor is from the opposition under the BN federal government, it is like the chief minister of a state under BN federal government, both have to work together for the good of the country and the rakyat. This is democracy,” Seputeh MP Teresa Kok from the DAP told Malay Mail Online.
“In the past, we have always heard the story about the clash of opinion between mayor of KL and the FT minister. This means the role or power of mayor in KL has been reduced or compromised as there is a minister of Umno above him. KL mayor should be given the power and authority to administer the city and he should consult the MPs in FT in all his policies, unlike now,” she added.
Kok also claimed that many pieces of land in KL have been sold below market rate to government-linked corporations or foundations controlled by Umno, including the land sales involving state investment firm 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB).
“Isn’t this an abuse of power by Umno as there is no check and balance in all the land and project approval?” she questioned.
Amin Nordin reportedly told business radio station BFM yesterday that the federal government needs to govern KL directly to make policy implementation easier.
He also reportedly said that it is the FT minister, currently Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor, who makes policy which the KL mayor will then execute.
BN has long resisted calls to restore local council elections that were suspended in 1965 during the Indonesian Confrontation. In the 13th general election, the DAP and PKR swept nine out of 11 federal seats in Kuala Lumpur, with the DAP winning five seats.
Bukit Bintang MP Fong Kui Lun from the DAP pointed out that elected mayors from developed cities like London and New York have come from the opposition.
“They’re also working closely with the government of the day. It’s a check and balance,” he told Malay Mail Online.
“The FT Ministry — it’s redundant. Most of the jobs are repeat, the staff wasting public funds. No good for the people and the practice of democracy in the country,” he added, noting that the FT Ministry only came into existence in the 1980s during the Mahathir administration.
Lembah Pantai MP Nurul Izzah Anwar from PKR told the KL mayor to read the 1968 Athi Nahappan Royal Commission of Inquiry report that concluded that the restoration of local elections and the empowerment of local authorities would better serve the people.
“Why should taxpayers fund Umno-BN’s continued reign through the FT Ministry despite the former’s failure to capture the hearts of KLites?” she questioned.
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