KUALA LUMPUR: City residents have urged newly appointed Mayor Datuk Seri Maimunah Mohd Sharif (pic) to engage with them before approving any new developments in Kuala Lumpur.
They stressed the importance of adhering to the density limits specified in the Kuala Lumpur Local Plan and the Kuala Lumpur Structure Plan, urging the mayor to prevent any developments that exceed these limits.
“We hope the mayor will consider our concerns before approving development orders and keep us informed throughout the process,” said Kuala Lumpur Residents Action for Sustainable Development Association chairman Tan Booi Charn.
“We want open communication, transparency and sustainable development, especially in a city that is already overdeveloped.”
Save Kuala Lumpur coalition chairman Datuk M. Ali said the new mayor must bring a fresh perspective to the administration of the capital city.
“There needs to be a holistic approach to urban living and development. Dialogue and engagement with all stakeholders are essential to better understanding on-the-ground issues,” he said, adding that the mayor must quickly address these challenges.
Ali also highlighted the need to restore confidence in the city’s administration, which has declined in recent years.
“We need a mayor who will rebuild trust and prioritise transparency and accountability.
“I am confident that Maimunah, with her experience and background, will deliver on these fronts,” he added.
Maimunah was appointed as Kuala Lumpur’s 15th Mayor, succeeding Datuk Seri Kamarulzaman Mat Salleh and making her the first woman to lead the capital city.
The announcement was made by Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Federal Territories) Dr Zaliha Mustafa in a statement yesterday.
The 63-year-old Maimunah, who previously served as the mayor of the Penang Island City Council, is also Malaysia’s Special Envoy on Sustainable Urbanisation and a former executive director of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme.
A town planner by training, Maimunah holds a degree from the University of Wales Institute of Science and Technology, United Kingdom.
She began her career at the Municipal Council of Penang Island in 1985 and was promoted to Director of Planning and Development in 2003, where she was instrumental in overseeing development control for city projects and landscape development in Penang.
She also led a team in planning and implementing urban renewal projects in George Town.
In Nov 2009, Maimunah made her mark by becoming the first general manager to establish George Town World Heritage Incorporated, managing the George Town World Heritage Site, which was inscribed by Unesco in July 2008.
She later became the first woman to serve as president of the Seberang Perai Municipal Council in 2011.
