Calls for local elections in KL should take backseat, says ex-advisory board member

Lai Chen Heng urges focus on professionalism and administrative stability after an abrupt mayoral change.

Former DBKL advisory board member Lai Chen Heng said the sudden mayoral change causes instability, but is not a reason to call for local council elections. (Envato Elements pic)

PETALING JAYA:

 Calls for local elections in Kuala Lumpur should take a backseat to strengthening governance and professionalism in the city administration, says former city advisory board member Lai Chen Heng.

Lai acknowledged that a sudden mayoral change creates instability, but said it should not be used to justify demands for local council elections.

He said Kuala Lumpur faces challenges, such as risks of corruption, gaps in competency, and service quality, that are administrative, not political.

“These are not resolved through popular vote, but through enforceable mechanisms of accountability and transparency,” he said in a statement today.

Lai Chen Heng.

His remarks come after Maimunah Sharif’s tenure as mayor abruptly ended yesterday, earlier than the scheduled Aug 16 next year. Fadlun Mak Ujud has been appointed as her successor with immediate effect.

Maimunah will take on a new role as a property adviser to Petronas from Nov 17, overseeing projects including Sungai Besi land and Kota Madani developments.

The leadership change has drawn mixed reactions, with Setiawangsa MP Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad calling on the federal government to explain the early termination and reiterating his push for local council elections.

However, Lai said the immediate priority should be ensuring administrative stability, competent civil service, and consistent progress on development initiatives like CHASE City, which aims to make Kuala Lumpur clean, safe, healthy, advanced, and eco-friendly.

“We should avoid chasing distant and complex promises of local elections for the federal territory, and instead build strong governance grounded in professionalism.

“We should not be debating local elections or the appointment of the mayor. Let Fadlun begin his work with everyone’s support,” he said.

He also warned that introducing local elections could politicise the city council and distract from technical urban management.

“In calling for local council elections, we should focus on improving effectiveness and empowering the advisory board as an immediate transitional measure, rather than rushing into local elections,” he said. - FMT