Before this, I highlighted the demands by residents group Selamatkan KL as well as Federal Territory Pakatan Harapan to gazette the KL 2020 City Plan.
The dispute highlights yet again that local government elections need to be restored in Malaysia starting with our nation’s capital.
Many of the problems highlighted above stem from the fact that the DBKL and other local councils are virtually unaccountable to the residents of the areas they are supposed to serve.
This problem is more serious in the Federal Territory as there is a democratic deficit because not only is there no local elections but there is no elected authority equivalent to the State Governments elected by the rakyat in the rest of Malaysia.
If we look at the examples of other countries, Canberra is administered through the Australian Capital Territory. Washington DC is administered by the District of Columbia. London is administered by the Greater London Authority. Jakarta is at par with other provinces in Indonesia. Each of these cities have elections to choose their administrators, not just send legislators at the national level.
I will definitely press for this, as well as support the people of Kuala Lumpur in their quest for greater transparency, accountable government and better living.
NIK NAZMI NIK AHMAD
PAKATAN HARAPAN YOUTH LEADER
PARTI KEADILAN RAKYAT YOUTH LEADER
