08/02/2026

NATIONAL 4 theSun on Sunday FEB 8, 2026

Call to carefully evaluate KL mayor election plan

Ű BY IKHWAN ZULKAFLEE newsdesk@thesundaily.com

PETALING JAYA: The proposal to introduce elections for the Kuala Lumpur mayor should be assessed carefully as it may have implications for Malaysia’s constitutional democratic framework, said constitutional expert Assoc Prof Datuk Dr Wan Ahmad Fauzi Wan Husain. He said Malaysia’s constitutional system since independence has been based on the sovereignty of the Malay Rulers and the supremacy of the Federal Constitution, with democratic participation taking place through general elections to Parliament and state legislative assemblies. Under the current framework, legislation is deliberated and approved by the Dewan Rakyat and Dewan Negara before receiving the assent of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong at the federal level. The authority to give assent to laws rests with the sovereign, who is not elected through a general election. Wan Ahmad Fauzi, who is also International Institute of Islamic Thought and Civilisation faculty member at the International Islamic University Malaysia, said executive authority is exercised by the Cabinet appointed by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong on the advice of the prime minister, in accordance with the Constitution. He said this reflects Malaysia’s practice of constitutional democracy, which differs from systems such as those in the United States or the Westminster model, in which sovereignty lies entirely with Parliament. The public does not directly elect those who exercise executive authority. He added that the system was designed to ensure continuity and stability in the exercise of executive functions, in line with constitutional and statutory law. Wan Ahmad Fauzi added that Kuala Lumpur already has elected representatives in Parliament, consistent with the existing constitutional democratic system. On the proposal to elect the Kuala Lumpur mayor, he said it should not be viewed solely as

Move could have implications for Malaysia’s constitutional system, affect governance arrangements in capital city, says expert

Lee said the call for an elected mayor should not be misconstrued as criticism of appointed mayors, adding that Kuala Lumpur had experienced capable leadership under the current system. “I am not saying that an appointed mayor cannot perform or has not performed well. We have had appointed mayors who showed good performance. But the question is whether we want to improve accountability and service delivery by giving people a direct role in choosing their rental rates for food business premises, expanding affordable housing for support groups, developing Bumiputera entrepreneurship and the middle class of other communities and creating opportunities to improve economic mobility among the B40 group. He added that empowering communities and narrowing demographic gaps among Kuala Lumpur residents were important in safeguarding inter-ethnic harmony and national unity. On Feb 1, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Federal Territories) Hannah Yeoh said her ministry was studying the possibility of introducing elections for the Kuala Lumpur mayor. The proposal drew objections from several Umno and PAS leaders, most of whom said the move could affect the position of Malays in the capital. Meanwhile, former law minister Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz said concerns among Malays over the introduction of mayoral elections in Kuala Lumpur should be discussed openly, adding that demographic considerations in urban constituencies have long influenced resistance to local government polls. However, the former Padang Rengas MP said despite these concerns, he personally supported the idea of electing a mayor for Kuala Lumpur, adding that the capital would benefit from greater accountability and more

“The most important principle here is democracy. The people of Kuala Lumpur should be given a direct say in how their city is managed. If there is a need to determine whether the mayor should be elected or appointed, then let the people decide through a referendum,“ Lee said when contacted. He said allowing residents to choose their mayor would enhance accountability, as an elected mayor would be directly answerable to voters rather than to the appointing authority. “With an elected mayor, the people have a choice. They can elect someone for a four or five year term, and if that person does an administrative change as it could affect governance arrangements in the capital. He said an elected mayor would likely be granted greater autonomy and responsibilities than at present, which could introduce additional considerations, including the need to maintain political support and the possibility of candidacy by individuals who may not necessarily prioritise national aspirations or transparency in policy implementation. He also said there was a possibility that political sponsorship and lobbying practices could become more prominent, with interest groups seeking to influence decision making even if the mayor is elected by Kuala Lumpur voters. Wan Ahmad Fauzi said development in the capital city cannot rely solely on local resources as it involves multiple stakeholders and national interests as well as the responsibility of preserving Malaysia’s national identity. He suggested that attention could instead be directed towards improving administrative efficiency, strengthening integrity in senior appointments, enhancing transparency in procurement processes and shaping Kuala Lumpur’s urban development to better reflect national identity. He said priority should also be given to addressing the cost of living, controlling the prices of essential goods, reducing

Nazri said concerns among Malays over the introduction of mayoral elections in Kuala Lumpur should be discussed openly, adding that demographic considerations in urban constituencies have long influenced resistance to local government polls. – AMIRUL SYAFIQ/THESUN responsive governance.

receptive to the introduction of local government elections. Nazri also said Kuala Lumpur required a form of elected local leadership, adding that governance and development in the capital could be affected without stronger accountability. He also said introducing a carefully structured electoral model for local government could improve transparency, governance and public confidence while taking into account long-standing ethnic considerations.

He suggested that voters could elect several candidates, with a structured division between Bumiputera and non Bumiputera representatives, and that those elected could then choose the datuk bandar from among themselves. Nazri said such a collective leadership model could help address ethnic concerns while still allowing for democratic participation at the local level. He added that this approach could make Malays more

Allow residents to decide through referendum: Community activist PETALING JAYA: Residents of Kuala Lumpur should be given the right to decide through a referendum whether they want local government and mayoral elections, said community activist Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye. not perform, they can vote for someone else. That option does not exist when the mayor is appointed,” he added. city’s leadership.” He also cautioned against framing the issue along racial lines, describing such perceptions as unfounded and harmful. “The focus must be on having the right perception, a realistic perception, and not one driven by fear, racial sentiments or political agendas,” he added.

According to Lee, an elected mayor system would strengthen transparency and improve service delivery, as the mayor would be accountable to residents on issues such as urban management, infrastructure and cleanliness. “At the end of the day, this is about better services and better governance for the people of Kuala Lumpur. Giving residents a voice through democratic means would help ensure that the city is managed in their best interests.” – By IKHWAN ZULKAFLEE

“This should not be seen as a racial issue. Anyone who is qualified, capable and confident, Malay, Chinese, Indian or from any other community, should be able to stand as a candidate. It is wrong to assume that an elected mayor would automatically come from one particular race or that any group would dominate the city,” he said. Lee said leadership should be judged on merit, integrity and competence, rather than ethnicity or political affiliation.

The former Bukit Bintang MP stressed that the issue should be viewed through the lens of democracy, accountability and better public service, not politics or race. Lee said the proposal for an elected mayor was fundamentally about strengthening democratic participation and improving governance in the capital city, which has a population of about two million.