KL MPs met Selamatkan KL Coalition (SKL) on June 7th where the main issues were democratisation of KL and gazetting draft of KL City Plan.
Save KL Coalition urges new government to gazette Draft KL City Plan 2020 quickly
KUALA LUMPUR (June 7): The Selamatkan Kuala Lumpur or Save KL Coalition (SKL) expects the Draft KL City Plan 2020 to be gazetted in the next six to eight months, said SKL deputy chairperson Datuk M Ali after a meeting between the coalition and newly elected KL MPs today.
Present was Bukit Bintang MP Fong Kui Lun, Setiawangsa MP Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad, Segambut MP Hannah Yeoh, Kepong MP Lim Lip Eng and Lembah Pantai MP Fahmi Fadzil. This is their first meeting with SKL since the new government was formed.
“We have started a working relationship and some common grounds on how we can work together. At the end of the day, we just want to work together for the good of KL city and KL people. We are not here to point fingers or criticize anybody,” said Ali.
He said the MPs have to race against time.
“The gazetting of the local plan is the main priority and must be done in six months’ time. We cannot say we wait for six months and then another six months again. There is no reason for it. We can start in July and study the views and get feedback. Even the Datuk Bandar (mayor) has set the target of six to eight months. So, if he is prepared, it means DBKL should be ready,” said Ali.
However, Ali stressed that the plan has to be reviewed and revisited as changes were made over the years such as in 2013, 2015 and up to two weeks ago.
“The plans may not look like the plan that was discussed back in 2008. We went through a lot of discussions in 2008 but after that, they made changes without getting back to us,” Ali emphasised.
Meanwhile, Segambut MP Yeoh noted that this issue was raised during the election campaign period and the MPs have signed a pledge on SKL’s proposed institutional reforms to Kuala Lumpur and to have the issues solved.
“All the eleven KL MPs of Pakatan Harapan know that this is something we have committed to.
“But we obviously need time. When the Cabinet was appointed, none of us know if there is a Federal Territories Minister or not. So, we cannot comment now in detail. But nevertheless, we have made it here to engage and listen because this kind of engagement is healthy,” said Yeoh.
Other proposed institutional reforms by SKL include the abolishment of the FT Ministry, harmonise the FT Planning Act with the Town and Country Planning Act, democratise the city council, ensure effective community participation, protect green and open spaces and institutional reforms to KL City Hall’s (DBKL) structure.
SKL is made up of KL residents advocating for sustainable growth and development. Previously known as the Coalition to Save Kuala Lumpur, they spearheaded a unified citizen’s engagement with DBKL in 2008 on the Draft Kuala Lumpur City Plan 2020.