Latest news with #Maimunah
New Straits Times
an hour ago
- Business
- New Straits Times
Developers target several redevelopment sites in Kuala Lumpur
KUALA LUMPUR: Property developers have shown strong interest in redeveloping several of the 139 sites spanning 1,297.62 hectares across Kuala Lumpur, according to Mayor Datuk Seri Dr Maimunah Mohd Sharif. Speaking at the Resilient Cities, Sustainable Futures: Transforming Urban Landscapes through Sustainable Renewal forum here today, Maimunah revealed that of the 139 sites earmarked for redevelopment, 19 have received developer interest. She added that 13 proposals have been formally submitted to the One-Stop Centre (OSC), while two have received development orders. The remaining 105 sites have yet to attract any applications. The 139 sites identified by Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) and outlined in the Kuala Lumpur Local Plan 2040 (KL Local Plan 2040), sparked considerable interest from developers, especially with the impending Urban Redevelopment Act (URA). "For all 139 sites, I have yet to go through the details of land titles and related matters. This is where local authorities like DBKL come in, to guide and support developers. Investment cannot be a rough estimation," she said in her keynote address. Maimunah called for stronger collaboration between the public and private sectors to realise Kuala Lumpur's urban transformation goals. At the core of her vision is a transparent, inclusive, and sustainability-focused strategy that aims to revitalise ageing parts of the city while maintaining its soul and community values. "Urban renewal is not just about tearing down 100 units to build 200. It must come with new facilities, sustainable living conditions, and most importantly, a sense of place," she said. "As discussed earlier at the forum, I agree that developers should come in last. Property owners must take the lead. If a site is zoned R3, it should stay R3. If it's residential, it should remain residential. But the development should not be cast in stone. If there is a need for some changes, you would need to go through the proper process involving public participation. This is vital for restoring public trust." "We want developers to work hand in hand with DBKL, not just on these 139 sites, but across all our work. "Let's build a better Kuala Lumpur together," she said. Appointed as mayor eight months ago, Maimunah brings decades of international urban development experience, including her time as executive director of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat), where she oversaw urbanisation in over 1,600 cities across 193 countries. "Now, I'm the mayor of just one city, but the capital of Malaysia. With all your support, do you think we can't do better? In just eight months, I've met 38 ambassadors, and they all say they love Kuala Lumpur. So why can't we do better and shift from a liveable city to a loveable one? Can we flip the script that urbanisation is bad? I believe we can." She emphasised that while urbanisation and climate change are often viewed as global challenges, they also represent opportunities for innovation. "Whenever I hear the words 'resilience' and 'sustainability', I think about urbanisation and climate change. Both are megatrends, but they have also improved our quality of life," she said. "Still, the rapid pace of urbanisation and increasingly unpredictable weather patterns demand more innovation in how we build, design, and manage our cities." The 139 sites identified by DBKL are outlined in the Kuala Lumpur Local Plan 2040 (KL Local Plan 2040) and sparked considerable interest from developers, especially with the impending Urban Redevelopment Act. Maimunah said that the KL Local Plan 2040, gazetted on May 28 and set to be launched by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim on June 24, is a key part of the city's transformation agenda. It reflects input from over 28,000 public submissions, with 4,000 incorporated into the final document. "The roadmap is clear and transparent, but now we need to translate it into real-world outcomes," said Maimunah. "This local plan is more than just a planning document. It's our collective social contract. We did it collectively to shape a city that balances growth with care, modernisation with inclusion, and progress with sustainability. It's not just DBKL's plan... it's our plan. And now, we must focus on implementation." She expressed strong interest in modelling DBKL's urban planning strategies on Singapore's Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA), particularly in the rollout of the 2040 masterplan. To prepare for the upcoming Urban Renewal Act, Maimunah said DBKL will form a dedicated task taskforce to study the legislation and ensure the city is ready to support both landowners and developers through the renewal process. "DBKL is ready. We have planners, engineers, architects, and surveyors. But we're not just building structures. We're building communities. Cities aren't just buildings and roads. When you develop a piece of land, think of streets as arteries. Think of waste management. "Think of the families who will call that space home for generations," she said. She concluded with a rallying call: "Let's work hand in hand to make Kuala Lumpur not just a liveable city, but a loveable one."
The Star
21-05-2025
- Business
- The Star
Enforcement is across the board, says KL mayor
(From left) Think City Sdn Bhd managing director Datuk Hamdan Abdul Majeed, Ameer, Maimunah and Lim at the appreciation gathering in Kuala Lumpur. — YAP CHEE HONG/The Star DBKL vows to take action against illegal traders THREE hotels in Kuala Lumpur were sealed this year for failing to comply with the local authority's regulations, says mayor Datuk Seri Maimunah Mohd Sharif. She was underscoring the point that there was no favouritism involved as Kuala Lumpur City Hall's (DBKL) enforcement was applied across the board, from stalls to hotels. Speaking at an appreciation gathering organised by Batu Road Retailers Association (Barra) and Masjid India Business Association (Miba) at Sogo Kuala Lumpur, Maimunah said issues raised by the associations, especially those related to illegal traders, were taken seriously. This was in response to complaints by Miba president Datuk Ameer Ali Mydin regarding the challenges faced by local traders. Ameer had highlighted several concerns, including unlicensed businesses operated by foreign workers, illegal traders, bazaars blocking access to established businesses, and persistent parking issues due to illegal or double parking. 'These issues have significantly affected long-time traders in the Masjid India area,' he said. He urged the mayor to address the influx of foreign workers operating illegally in areas such as Jalan Silang. 'The Home Ministry has stated that only 15% of employees in certain sectors can be foreigners. 'Based on this, enforcement should be carried out at premises that are entirely run by foreigners,' he said. 'We need to support our small businesses. Many of us – like Mydin, Sogo and Giant – started small before growing bigger,' said Ameer. He further said that 99% of shops operated by foreigners failed to comply with local product labelling regulations, especially for imported items. These, he suggested, were areas where DBKL could step up enforcement. Ameer also called on DBKL to act against the so-called 'drinks syndicate' operating at Jalan Chow Kit and Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman, allegedly run by 80% foreign vendors without licences. He urged authorities to assist local street food vendors by relocating them to proper sites so that they did not obstruct other businesses. Meanwhile, Barra founder and Malaysia Retailers Association president Datuk Andrew Lim expressed hope that the Visit Malaysia 2026 campaign would attract both local and international tourists to areas such as Batu Road and Masjid India. Maimunah thanked the business community for its cooperation and said DBKL would adopt an integrated enforcement approach in collaboration with the relevant bodies. 'I will visit Jalan Silang personally to assess the situation. 'In Chow Kit, enforcement has already taken place. One of the former mayors was impressed by the approach we took. 'I work closely with my officers, especially ground staff. I value their feedback because they are on the frontlines,' she added. Regarding parking issues, Maimunah said DBKL had towed many vehicles and she met with Rapid KL officials to discuss strategies to reduce traffic congestion.
The Star
20-05-2025
- The Star
QuickCheck: Was DBKL's online service system hacked and held for a USD55mil ransom?
IN AN era where cyber threats are increasingly common, reports of digital breaches can cause alarm and confusion. Recent claims have surfaced suggesting that Kuala Lumpur City Hall's (DBKL) online service system was hacked and held for ransom. Is it true that DBKL's system was compromised and a USD55mil (RM236.17mil) ransom demanded? Verdict: FALSE DBKL has denied claims that its online service system was hacked and held hostage for ransom. According to Kuala Lumpur Mayor Datuk Seri Dr Maimunah Mohd Sharif, while DBKL's online service system did experience technical disruptions, there was no ransom demand involved. "There was indeed a system disruption, but it had nothing to do with money (ransom demand) from anyone," said Dr Maimunah. The disruptions affected 39 systems, including the e-housing, e-licence, e-complaint, and e-booking systems, all of which have returned to normal since May 1. Kuala Lumpur police chief Datuk Rusdi Mohd Isa also confirmed that no reports of such a claim have been received by the police. The misinformation originated from a report in a Chinese-language newspaper, which cited a Member of Parliament alleging that DBKL's system was hacked with a ransom demand of RM236.17mil. The MP reportedly claimed to have received the information from a reliable source and expressed confidence in the occurrence of the incident. It is crucial to rely on official statements and verified information, especially when navigating reports of cyber security incidents. In this case, both DBKL and the Kuala Lumpur police have confirmed that the claims of hacking and ransom are unfounded. References: Bernama
Free Malaysia Today
20-05-2025
- Business
- Free Malaysia Today
Some public housing tenants skipped rent for over 2 decades, says KL mayor
Kuala Lumpur mayor Maimunah Sharif said an internal discussion will be held next week on measures to address the mounting rental arrears across PPR and PA units managed by DBKL. PETALING JAYA : Some public housing (PA) tenants have failed to pay rent for up to 26 years, with arrears reaching as high as RM39,140, Kuala Lumpur mayor Maimunah Sharif revealed. She said the monthly rental rate was RM124, excluding maintenance charges. The highest arrears were recorded at the People's Housing Programme (PPR) in Kampung Muhibbah (RM1.9 million) and Desa Rejang (RM1.28 million). To address the issue of mounting rental arrears across PPR and PA units managed by Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL), which now total RM70 million, she said an internal discussion would be held next week. 'I'll need to assess the situation because the measures we currently take involve meeting tenants face to face, asking why they haven't paid, and locking their water meters. 'We do have the authority to evict non-paying tenants, but most of them are from the B40 group, so we have to consider the situation carefully. 'I'll conduct an analysis and discuss the matter with federal territories minister Dr Zaliha Mustafa,' she told FMT. Maimunah Sharif. Maimunah said tenants often cite financial difficulties as the reason for not paying rent. 'But when we visit their areas, they complain about a lack of parking. I understand that having a car isn't a luxury anymore, it's a necessity. Still, people need to prioritise. 'At the moment, we're not taking strict action so some feel there's room not to pay,' she added. She said that in the upcoming discussions, DBKL would work on developing clearer procedures on housing and rental arrears. AdChoices ADVERTISING DBKL will also issue public notices to warn tenants with outstanding rent so that they are not caught off guard when enforcement begins. 'When we shut off the water supply, they often find a way to pay. Previously, we also introduced a scheme allowing them to settle arrears in instalments if they couldn't pay in full,' Maimunah said.
New Straits Times
20-05-2025
- Business
- New Straits Times
RM1.9 million in rental arrears at a single PPR site, says DBKL
KUALA LUMPUR: Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) is grappling with longstanding rent arrears in its public housing (PA) units, with some tenants failing to make payments for up to 26 years and individual debts reaching RM39,140. City mayor Maimunah Sharif said total arrears now stand at RM70 million, despite the monthly rental being fixed at just RM124, excluding maintenance charges. According to Free Malaysia Today, the worst cases were recorded at PPR Kampung Muhibbah with RM1.9 million in arrears, followed by Desa Rejang at RM1.28 million. "Some tenants have not made payments for more than two decades. It has become necessary to review our approach to ensure the system remains sustainable," said Maimunah. An internal meeting is scheduled next week to reassess enforcement methods and formulate more structured procedures for dealing with defaulters. "At the moment, we speak directly to tenants, ask for explanations and, in some cases, lock up their water meters," she said. Although DBKL has the legal authority to evict tenants who fail to pay, she said they must tread carefully as most affected households fall under the B40 income bracket. "We will analyse the matter further and bring it to the attention of the federal territories minister, Dr Zaliha Mustafa," she said. Maimunah said that while many tenants cite financial hardship, complaints about parking shortages were also commonly raised. "There may be a perception that strict enforcement won't happen, which could be contributing to the problem," she said. To address the situation, DBKL will begin issuing formal notices to tenants with arrears and establish clearer guidelines on rent collection and enforcement. She added that water supply cuts have previously led to repayments, and tenants had been allowed to settle arrears in instalments.
