“Our plans are always at the top of the elite group; we think of big buildings. We are proud to hear it, but what convenience is this for the people?”

COMMENT | Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim asked this pertinent question to the Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) at the launch of the Warisan Kuala Lumpur initiative, which aims to rejuvenate the city’s historic core.

He said: “That is why I have instructed DBKL that I will not accept grand, monumental projects just for the sake of prestige.

“What I want are clean, well-managed small buildings - stalls and facilities that are dignified and serve the 75 to 80 percent who represent the real heartbeat of this city.”

The big question is: Will the city’s administrators retreat into a cocoon to avoid answering the question and heeding his directives?