Latest news with #PlanningRules2025
Focus Malaysia
3 days ago
- Politics
- Focus Malaysia
Siti Kasim fumes at Madani gov't giving KL mayor arbitrary power to approve development projects
HUMAN rights activist and lawyer Siti Kasim has cried foul at the Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur Planning Rules 2025 which 'quietly' accorded the Kuala Lumpur (KL) mayor excessive powers to approve developments in the Federal capital. She further threw the book at the Madani government as to how the new planning regulation could be gazetted without any form of public consultation or engagement with other interested stakeholders. 'Urban dwellers in KL have seen deterioration to the standards of roads and parking space while been subject to mushrooming number of condos which has led to massive traffic congestion yet the power that be can still allow the mayor to approve development projects at his/her discretion,' she berated in her latest YouTube video. 'This may explain the approval to a condominium project that will take off on a small piece of land in the vicinity of my residence without any prior consultation with residents of other surrounding high-rises.' For context, the new regulation was first flagged by Seputeh MP Teresa Kok while debating on the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP) on Wednesday (Aug 6) as having been quietly passed on June 13 and came into force beginning June 16 but was only discovered by civil society organisations a month-and-a-half later. 'Need to make a fuss' The Rule 3 of the amendment to the Federal Territory (Planning) Act 1982 stipulates that the mayor may consult, if he or she thinks necessary, any relevant authority, department, society or any interested person. Interestingly, the law which is also known as Act 267 further empowers the KL mayor to make final decisions on land development, including granting planning permission. On this note, Siti Kasim rallied KL-lites to make noise while taking the Madani government to task for amending a law that affects the well-being of city dwellers without prior public consultation. 'This is an arbitrarily authority that shouldn't have been accorded to the KL mayor for he/she could eventually choose the short cut by not engaging in public consultation to avoid public retaliation or confrontation,' asserted the Orang Asli advocate. 'This is terrible for it further opens the door for undesirable elements to creep in.' Recounting her personal experience while residing in London, Siti Kasim said the local council there even took the pain to send our letters if there would be any objection when her neighbour planned to make 'a small and low extension' to his kitchen. I'm unable to fathom how our own councils don't seem to care for our rights … If such is the direction of our local authorities, we must unite to oppose any form of power abuse. 'In fact. I'm very angry as to why our country is unable to follow what other developed nations have done to ensure an orderly development project, ie one with little discomfort to the well-being of surrounding residents. 'How would the mayor who probably resides in a bungalow know the hardship of KL urbanites whose standard of living has dwindled substantially amid mushrooming high-rise projects, inadequate parking space, worsening traffic congestion and inefficient public transportation? 'Seriously, something is wrong with the way things are organised and done in this country … I'm so pissed off as we seem to only be good at erecting more and more condos.' – Aug 8, 2025
New Straits Times
5 days ago
- Politics
- New Straits Times
Teresa Kok concerned over new KL planning rules gazetted without public consultation
KUALA LUMPUR: A member of parliament has raised concerns over the gazettement of new planning regulations for the city, claiming it was done without public consultation and gave excessive power to the mayor. Teresa Kok (PH-Seputeh) said the Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur Planning Rules 2025 were gazetted on June 13 and came into force three days later. She said it took almost one and a half months for civil society to realise the change had come into effect. "I would like to ask the government why this new procedure was gazetted without any consultation with the public or relevant stakeholders, especially in terms of public participation? "According to the 2025 planning procedures, the mayor may consult relevant parties only if he or she deem it necessary, meaning there is no guarantee that the public will be given the opportunity to voice their views or objections before any development is approved." Kok raised the issue during the debate on the 13th Malaysia Plan in the Dewan Rakyat. She said the rules, which replace the decades-old planning framework, should reflect how society has become more aware and engaged. She said this move has sparked public concern as it reduces transparency in decision-making and limits opportunities for communities to scrutinise or oppose development plans. "It also grants excessive authority to the mayor, allowing them to approve developments regardless of public sentiment. "I urge the government to review this new planning procedure and provide an explanation to the public on how this policy was formulated and approved," she said.
