DBKL rolls out 16 reforms to curb mayor's powers, improve governance

 

PARLIAMENT | Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) has rolled out 16 reforms aimed at reducing the mayor’s powers and improving transparency, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Federal Territories) Hannah Yeoh said today.

She said the reforms followed recommendations in an International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) feasibility study on the Federal Capital Act 1960 and were focused on four areas: internal procedures, committee roles, advisory boards, and the federal territories minister’s council.

“This reform approach aims to change DBKL’s work culture from the previous individual-based decision-making model, which was focused heavily on the mayor’s power, to a model based on the principles of good governance, collective decision-making, and integrity,” the Segambut told the Dewan Rakyat this morning.

Yeoh said the changes based on IIUM’s study include, among others:

• The mayor no longer chairs the audit committee,

• The amount in donations that the mayor is allowed to approve is capped at RM3,000; there was no limit previously,

• Introducing standard operating procedures, performance monitoring, and audits,

• Implementing job rotations for field officers and those in sensitive positions to reduce familiarity-related corruption risks,

• Abolishing the Special One Stop Centre (OSC) committee to separate powers and reduce political interference in development approvals,

• Establishing a budget monitoring committee involving Kuala Lumpur MPs and regular consultation meetings co-chaired by DBKL’s executive director and federal lawmakers,

• Strengthening the advisory board and setting up committees on donations, audit, governance, and integrity to reduce conflicts of interest and distribute decision-making powers previously concentrated in the mayor,

• Rolling out body cameras in phases,

• Extended business licence validity from one year to three years from July 1,

• All development applications will be uploaded to the OSC 3.0 portal, allowing MPs and the public to review proposals and submit feedback before approvals are granted, and

• Public hearings will continue to be held for developments that conflict with local plans, with greater emphasis on stakeholder consultation before redevelopment projects proceed.

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DBKL had also implemented recommendations from the MACC after the anti-graft agency identified procedural weaknesses that created opportunities for misconduct, Yeoh added.

This covered the management of radio studio content production projects, the allocation of Ramadan and Aidilfitri bazaar sites, the management and monitoring of contracts for business licence services, governance of statutory body sports tournaments, and the collection of rental payments for public housing projects.

Unfavourable findings

On July 2, Yeoh revealed that IIUM’s study had advised against mayoral elections as well as the appointment of councillors in DBKL.

Malaysiakini understood that the study also advised against local polls.

International Islamic University Malaysia

It is unclear what methodology IIUM used, whether it consulted Kuala Lumpur residents, whether the study involved a survey, what the sample size was if one was conducted, and how it arrived at its conclusions.

The findings appear to conflict with a recent survey by Merdeka Center, which found that 58 percent of registered voters nationwide supported the proposal for direct elections for the mayor of Kuala Lumpur, while 19 percent opposed it.

Digitalisation push

Today, Yeoh said DBKL scored just 0.08 out of the five percentage points allocated for the public service corruption indicator under the 2025 Local Authority Star Rating System, highlighting the need for governance reforms.

The push for transparency and accountability has also accelerated the digitalisation of DBKL’s services under its Smart City agenda, she said.

As of July, she said 170 online application services had been introduced, with the number expected to increase to 180 end-to-end digital services by year-end.

She added that all applications are expected to be fully online by 2030. - Mkini