Bazaar debacle underscores need for local polls, says Fong

The controversy over the rental of Ramadan bazaar lots in Kuala Lumpur underscored the need for local government elections to improve accountability, said Bukit Bintang MP Fong Kui Lun.

Speaking to reporters after lodging a report with the MACC today, he said the controversy over the rental of bazaar lots arose from the previous policies on how licenses were issued.

"If DBKL is made to be more transparent and accountable, matters like the (Ramadan bazaar licensing) allegations would have happened," he said.

Fong was caught in the controversy because he had written a letter to Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) in support Bukit Bintang Pribumi Youth leader Mohd Noorhisyam Abd Karim's application for 80 bazaar lots.

Mohd Noorhisyam then rented it out for as high as RM5,000 per lot, causing public outrage. DBKL's current practice was to allocate bazaar lots to political parties.

DBKL comes under the purview of the Federal Territories ministry. Currently, Putrajaya has not appointed a minister to helm this ministry.

Fong had previously said that he had issued the letter to Noorhisyam in good faith and was unaware of attempts to rent out the lots. 

Meanwhile, Cheras MP Tan Kok Wai, who accompanied Fong, said DBKL's inefficiencies meant that many petty traders had to face red tape to do business.

"Many of their (DBKL) department heads and officers are sleeping on the job. They lack the basic courtesy needed to handle the people's problems and their applications.

"The bureaucracy also deters many genuine applicants from getting social welfare aid," he said.

"Very often, we have to write repeated reminders to the various departments (in DBKL) and even then, the reminders may not be entertained. This is a serious problem," said Tan, who is now in his sixth term as a lawmaker.

Previously, Housing and Local Government Minister Zuraida Kamarudin said Putrajaya was keen on reviving local government elections in a few years, once the country's economy is stabilised. -Mkini