Pakatan Rakyat threw another gauntlet at the BN in pre-emptive campaigning for the impending general election, this time promising to rejuvenate the "worsening" living conditions in Kuala Lumpur.

"Despite the city being part of the Federal Territories for well over 37 years, the quality of life in Kuala Lumpur is getting worse. Realising the problems, we as Pakatan Federal Territory parliamentarians will work diligently to solve them with our 100-day reform program," said the elected representatives in a joint statement to the media today.

They lamented the unilateral transfer of valuable properties and heritage sites into the hands of commercial developers, the critical condition of public infrastructure and lack of maintenance.

NONE This, they claim is further exacerbated by a rising crime rate and the lack of satisfactory enforcement response which has gone to the extent of forcing communities to police themselves.

A condition which they argue, is made worse by wages which continues to bottom out while property prices continue to skyrocket.

"While the hardcore poor is supposedly extinct, the number of urban poor has risen all throughout the city since 1998," claim the opposition MPs.

Inequity in Kuala Lumpur

They believe the continually widening rift between rich and poor which saw Malaysia's 2009 GINI coefficient ratio reach 0.461 - the highest in South East Asia - is a significant factor in the prevalence of social diseases in the metropolis which was once the administrative capital.

"Of course such a high inequity not only adversely affects the KL's economy but also Malaysia's as a whole," they added.

All these negative factors, they said, is unbecoming of the city which is the cultural, economic and financial hub of Malaysia, a city which is the country's most populous at 1.7 million inhabitants, a GDP of RM77 million and drawing over nine million tourists annually.

The opposition representatives pledged that should they take over the federal government, they shall implement the following measures to rejuvenate the city:

  • Restructure Public Housing Projects and renovate buildings.

  • To implement integrated public transit systems and improve local roads and car parks.

  • To continue building institutions of learning in the city to inculcate a culture of education.

  • Citywide CCTV coverage to aid law enforcement, traffic and emergency response.

  • Implement youth friendly policies focusing on unity and the development of youth.

  • Introduce business friendly measures and reduce administrative red tape.

  • Look to the implementation of local government elections in the city.

  • Look into the implementation of environmentally friendly policies.
    • NONE Their pledge is part of Pakatan's 100-day reform plans, announced at a recent opposition conference in Penang and dubbed the Orange Book, which the coalition vowed to undertake should it take over Putrajaya.

    The statement which was issued in accord with the Federal Territory Day to be celebrated on Tuesday was signed by all Pakatan parliamentarians whose constituencies lies in Kuala Lumpur.