MPs from both sides back PAC's call to reform KL land management

PARLIAMENT | MPs from both sides of the political divide expressed resounding support for a proposal by Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC) to reform land development procedures in Kuala Lumpur.

The lawmakers believe there is a need to increase checks and balances on how the city is managed, and in debating the proposal, they raised grave concerns over the absolute power held by the Kuala Lumpur mayor.

Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad (Harapan-Setiawangsa) pointed out that the laws governing the federal territory’s administration have rendered elected representatives voiceless.

While the Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) has an advisory board that includes experts and political representatives appointed by the federal government, he said they can only play the function of advising the mayor.

“This is different compared to other local governments which use the council system, where the mayor is first among equals, like a prime minister in the cabinet or a menteri besar at the state level.

“But in Kuala Lumpur, under the Federal Capital Act and other relevant laws, the mayor is all-powerful.

“If we get a good and kind mayor, alhamdulillah. But if we get a mayor that is not, then we have a problem,” Nik Nazmi said.

Earlier, PAC deputy chairperson Teresa Kok (Harapan-Seputeh) tabled the PAC’s report and proposal, urging the government to take a more holistic approach to land planning in Kuala Lumpur, amid concerns about transparency and integrity.

Among others, the PAC called on the government to establish a permanent committee to monitor land issues, including those related to ownership and development matters.

Kok said such a committee should involve Kuala Lumpur MPs, whose views as representatives of affected constituencies were not taken into account by a land executive committee.

Alleged leakages, wrongdoings

Touching on land issues, the former minister claimed that MPs in Kuala Lumpur today do not have any say before a decision is made by the Federal Territory Land Working Committee, which is chaired by the chief secretary to the government.

Similarly, Azman Nasrudin (PN-Padang Serai) supported the idea of changing the DBKL framework to using a council system.

“There is no strong mechanism of check and balance because the Federal Territory (Planning) Act has no legal provision for council members in DBKL.

“This is different from other local authorities that have council members. Without effective supervision from the relevant parties, it gives a veto power to the (Kuala Lumpur) mayor,” he said.

The Bersatu representative also raised a list of issues regarding land development approvals and the sale of government land in Kuala Lumpur.

Among others, Azman said the government had lost over RM14 million when a plot in Taman Desa was sold for RM1.9 million when the market price was estimated at RM16 million.

Government reserve land, including those that function as flood retention ponds, was also sold to developers despite objections from stakeholders, he said.

“There is also leakage in tender and direct negotiation processes, where government lands were usually sold through direct negotiation instead of going through an open tender process.

“An example is Lot 481453 in Desa Seri Hartamas, which was sold under market price without any (open) tender,” Azman said.

Call for strong action

Meanwhile, Shahidan Kassim (PN-Arau) urged the PAC to propose strong action against those involved in the alleged wrongdoings.

He said the PAC revealed government losses in the hundreds of millions, but its proposal was silent on efforts to recover the money.

“(The proposal) only talks about the losses. Where are the actions?

“PAC is the last bastion for us to put our hope. So PAC has to do its best and scrutinise how these people have been doing things,” he said.

Separately, a group of government backbenchers in a statement also expressed their full support for the PAC report and its suggestions.

They urged the federal government to study the report and take the suggestions seriously.

“The people of Kuala Lumpur have the right to have a stronger voice in how their city is governed and how decisions that affect their lives are made.

“We, as the government backbenchers in Kuala Lumpur, fully support the PAC suggestions as a starting point for a reform in this city, and we will push the Madani government towards executing the proposals,” it said.

The statement was signed by seven MPs: Tan Kok Wai (Cheras), Lim Lip Eng (Kepong), Teresa Kok (Seputeh), Fong Kui Lun (Bukit Bintang), Zahir Hassan (Wangsa Maju), P Prabakaran (Batu), and Nik Nazmi.

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