Kota Bharu MP Takiyuddin Hassan today cited parliamentary debates from 1960 to counter current findings on Malay support for the return of the local council election.
Speaking during a joint press conference in Parliament, Takiyuddin cited excerpts from the Hansard for Sept 12 and 13, 1960, from debates on the tabling of the Federal Capital Act 1960.
“I am referring to the 1960 Hansard. The majority of Malays at the time no longer supported the election of the mayor.
“Those who defended it back then were opposition parties, particularly the Socialist Front and several other groups.
“The MP for Bangsar at the time, V David, and the MP for Damansara, Karam Singh, were the ones who opposed the introduction of the Federal Capital Act in 1960. So in my view, that study can certainly be questioned,” said the PAS secretary-general.
‘Different studies may have different findings’
Takiyuddin said this when asked for comments on the findings of an October 2025 Invoke survey, presented by Setiawangsa MP Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad at a forum two weeks ago, that “51 percent of Malays surveyed in Kuala Lumpur were in support of the mayoral election”.
“Yes, we were informed about the study presented at that forum… well, yes, that’s one study. There may be other studies that show or produce different findings.
“But overall, we don’t have to be hypocritical. If you ask, the majority of Malays really do not want an election for the mayor of Kuala Lumpur,” he insisted.
DAP bogeyman
Targeting DAP, Takiyuddin said the party’s Federal Territories DAP Convention on Oct 13, 2023, passed a resolution to amend the Federal Capital Act.
“And now, the federal territories minister is from that party.
“So our question is whether the study conducted by the federal government is based on the pressure or struggle of a particular party, especially one that is in the government,” he added.
On Feb 3, DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke, who called for a halt in the politicisation of a feasibility study on mayoral polls in Kuala Lumpur, noted that former Umno leader Khairy Jamaluddin had also supported the idea at the Jan 19 forum alongside Nik Nazmi.
Previously, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Federal Territories) Hannah Yeoh clarified that the study is being conducted by the International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM), after which its findings will be presented to the cabinet.
“Don’t be scared, the study is being carried out by IIUM. It’s a reputable university. The study isn’t being carried out by DAP,” she had said.
Takiyuddin, however, raised further questions about why IIUM was chosen over other “senior universities”, such as Universiti Malaya or Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia. - Mkini
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