BRINGING back local elections for Kuala Lumpur is a top priority for Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad as the Pakatan Harapan government seeks a more accountable and responsive local government.

Some of the federal capital’s most vexing problems, such as overdevelopment, decaying low-cost housing and poverty, are due to it being governed by unelected officials, said Nik Nazmi, one of 11 MPs in the federal territory.

The current structure, where Kuala Lumpur is ruled from the top down by a minister, has led to conflicts of interest in the decisions made, said the newly elected Setiawangsa MP.

A case in point is when high-rise, high-density projects are carried out by a government-linked entity headed by the minister responsible for approving such ventures.

Such projects are evident in Taman Tun Dr Ismail and Taman Desa, where they have been pushed through despite objections from residents.

“There is a real democracy deficit in Kuala Lumpur. People in other states get two votes, for the federal government and the state. KL residents get only one,” Nik Nazmi told The Malaysian Insight.

He will propose that the PH government set up either local council elections for Kuala Lumpur or direct elections for the post of Kuala Lumpur mayor.

At the very least, PH can set up a consultative committee for the federal territory, made up of all its 11 MPs.

Local council elections were suspended during the 1965 “konfrontasi” with Indonesia by the then Barisan Nasional government.

Another priority for Nik Nazmi is eradicating urban poverty, especially in Setiawangsa’s swathes of low-cost flats.

He plans to set up community tuition classes modelled after the Mentari Project, which he started at the Desa Menteri low-cost flats in the Seri Setia constituency a decade ago.

“The key to beating poverty is ensuring that there is social mobility for the family. With better education, kids can get better jobs and move their parents out of these flats.

“We don’t want a situation where two or three generations of a family are trapped in these flats.”

In Parliament, Nik Nazmi will push for financing rules for political parties to allow them to grow while curbing the corrupting influence of money politics.

This includes making the process of soliciting funds transparent, so that the public knows from where and whom parties and politicians are receiving their money.

“I am also looking at limiting public funding for political parties, especially the opposition. In the UK, the Parliament funds researchers for opposition parties.”

In walking the talk, Nik Nazmi will continue declaring his assets publicly every year. – May 28, 2018.