COMMUNICATION between lawmakers and the Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) has improved, making it easier for the MPs to highlight their concerns and proposals for the capital city.

The MPs said mayor Kamarulzaman Mat Salleh has been holding monthly meetings to listen and address issues raised.

They said these meetings are vital as the unity government has disbanded the Federal Territories Ministry.

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim now directly oversees the administration of the federal territories, and in Kuala Lumpur, DBKL is the main agency to administer the capital.

Wangsa Maju MP Zahir Hassan said a direct line of communication has been made available not only with the mayor but also with the director of the respective departments.

“We have a scheduled monthly meeting with the mayor. Every MP is given the opportunity to raise issues concerning his constituency,” said the PKR MP.  

“Pending issues raised, some require immediate action, such as tree cutting or trimming in specific areas, while others are on long-term action. For example, looking into the traffic impact assessment for critical roads such as Jalan Gombak and Jalan Genting Klang.”

As for Wangsa Maju, Zahir said despite having the highest density population per sq km, the area has no sports facilities.

“There is also the connectivity issue in some areas with the light rail transit stations, parking problem and traffic congestion,” he said.

Zahir said there was a need for better planning and governance to improve the city’s standards.

“Looking at traffic congestion, we need blue-green deployment strategies for a better environment in line with the Sustainable Development Goals 2030 objectives,” he said.

“We must also have more community empowerment programmes based on sustainable approach models.”

‘Happy with the mayor’s response’

Veteran Cheras MP Tan Kok Wai, from DAP, said he wants DBKL to address all the issues he has raised during the monthly meetings with the mayor.

He said his constituency faces, among others, traffic congestion, flooding and overdevelopment.

“We need DBKL to look into overdevelopment, which will cause undesirable repercussions,” he said.

“It is impacting the livability here. We have major noise and traffic pollution and the loss of green space.

“The existing infrastructure just can’t cope with the fast developing areas, which will affect the community.”

He said there were dozens of housing schemes earmarked for Cheras that were approved by the previous Federal Territories Ministry before last year’s general election.

“Most of these projects were approved on green areas,” he said.

“We are grateful to the prime minister (Anwar Ibrahim), who has halted the projects pending further studies.”

Tan also wants DBKL to look into the cement factories that are causing pollution in Jalan Chan Sow Lin.

“There are 12 cement factories there. We believe some are operating illegally,” he said.

Tan also said he had raised the issue of foreigners operating hawker stalls at the Pudu wet market.

“I have raised this issue many times. I want stern action to be taken. We need to clear all markets of illegal immigrants,” he said.

“We are happy with the mayor’s response to look into all the issues we have raised.”

Kepong MP Lim Lip Eng, also from DAP, said communication with DBKL has improved.

He said during the monthly meetings, he had raised various local issues and policy matters.

“There is swift response and this new mayor is by far the most down-to-earth,” he said.

The issues he has raised include having a better traffic management system, more parking bays and having more public housing schemes for the B40.

Lim said DBKL needs to implement the five principles of good governance – responsibility, accountability, awareness, impartiality and transparency. – July 27, 2023.