KUALA LUMPUR — Government-aligned MPs in Kuala Lumpur today proposed the establishment of a Councillor System in Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) through an amendment to the Federal Capital Act 1960, aiming to enhance transparency and ensure development decisions prioritise public interest over developers.
The proposal will be submitted through a Private Member’s Bill to amend the Federal Capital Act 1960, involving the addition of Section 5B to the Act.
The MPs involved are Setiawangsa MP Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad; Seputeh MP Teresa Kok; Wangsa Maju MP Ir. Ts. Zahir Hasan; Cheras MP Tan Kok Wai; Kepong MP Lim Lip Eng; Batu MP P. Prabakaran; and Bukit Bintang MP Fong Kui Lun.
During a joint press conference in Parliament today, Nik Nazmi said that under the proposed system, the Mayor will serve as the Chairman of the Council, and each MP representing a Kuala Lumpur constituency will nominate two individuals as councillors.
He added that nominees must be appointed by the Minister in charge of the Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur, and this is a practical step towards greater democratisation in the capital city.
“No major changes are being made to the Federal Capital Act 1960 under this Bill. The purpose of this amendment is to implement the recommendation of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), issued in August 2025, for Kuala Lumpur Governance Reform. The recommendation shifts the concentration of power from the federally appointed Mayor to a council system.
“This aligns with practices in other local governments across the country under the Local Government Act 1976,” he said.
Nik Nazmi added that they hope the Bill will be tabled and debated soon, noting that it has been drafted based on feedback from lawyers, NGOs and other stakeholders.
“This Bill may not be perfect, but at least we have a working document to begin with. It serves as a reference and proves that we are not merely paying lip service.
“We hope this will make it easier for legal advisers in the Federal Territories Department and the Attorney General’s Chambers to work on the Bill. As government supporters, we want to cooperate positively and proactively with the government.
“We understand the need for consultations, but we are not touching other parts of the Federal Capital Act such as the position of the Mayor or the advisory board,” he said.
Meanwhile, Teresa Kok said that despite serving six terms, and Tan Kok Wai nine terms, as MPs in Kuala Lumpur, they have very little role and are often not taken seriously by DBKL.
“There is rapid development in my constituency, and traffic congestion in Kuala Lumpur is getting worse, but DBKL continues to approve dense developments.
“With councillors appointed by MPs, views and roles can be effectively channelled into DBKL’s administration,” she said.
Lim Lip Eng added that there is no reason for political parties to oppose the proposal, since councillor systems already exist in other states.
“Other states have MPs, State Assemblymen (ADUNs) and councillors as part of their administrative structure.
“But in Kuala Lumpur, we only have MPs, no state assembly and no councillors at all,” he said, describing the Bill as timely and necessary for urban residents. — November 20, 2025