Kuala Lumpur should be given its own territorial government - FT DAP Youth

Federal Territories DAP Youth has called for the implementation of a 'territorial government' for Kuala Lumpur.

Its publicity secretary Raja Ahmad Iskandar Fareez said this will empower democracy in the capital, further encourage public participation in Kuala Lumpur’s administration and build a more resilient community capable of facing challenges. 

“In comparison to other states, Kuala Lumpur deserves to have its own ‘territorial government’ led by representatives elected by the citizens in the capital itself.

“In terms of financial resources, Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) receives the highest allocation compared to other states. For 2022, DBKL was allocated RM2.70 billion in comparison to RM2.34 billion for Selangor, RM1.95 billion for Johor and RM306.83 million for Perlis, to name a few.

“In terms of population, the population of Kuala Lumpur which stood at 1.74 million people in 2021, far exceeds most states such as 255,000 in Perlis, 938,000 in Malacca, 1.13 million in Negeri Sembilan and 1.27 million in Terengganu," he said.

A territorial government is an administrative body or system in which political direction or control is exercised over a designated area or an administrative division of a city, county or a larger geographical area.

Right to elect own reps

Raja Ahmad Iskandar said the people of Kuala Lumpur must have the right to elect their own representatives, instead of being subjected to a minister who has been assigned to govern the federal territory.

“For citizens, especially youths who face the increasingly harsh realities of city life due to housing issues, low wages and the high cost of living, they should be empowered to elect their own government and chart the path of Kuala Lumpur's future.

“Local issues, such as the post-Covid-19 outbreak economic recovery and town planning, can also be handled in greater depth by elected representatives who are accountable to their constituents.

“Instead, what we have now is a capital city that is still governed by a minister who was not even elected by the people of Kuala Lumpur in the first place,” he added.

The DAP Youth leader also called for efforts to introduce an election at territorial and local council levels, as well as for the government to hold engagement sessions with the relevant stakeholders to identify the best method of implementation. - Mkini