By Danial Dzulkifly
KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 13 — Petaling Jaya MP Lee Chean Chung has made a bold proposal for the capital city of Kuala Lumpur to be reintegrated back into Selangor, saying the move will pave the way for better economic synergy and development which can benefit the populace.
The Parti Keadilan Rakyat lawmaker’s vision centres around the formation of a ‘Mega KL Metropolitan’ area.
Speaking in the Dewan Rakyat, he said while Selangor and KL have seen tremendous development over the past four decades, they have stagnated in recent times, necessitating a paradigm shift in planning and implementation.
“The Klang Valley desperately needs comprehensive public transport planning, additional affordable housing which requires land, and an all-encompassing city planning to compete with cities like Bangkok, Jakarta, and Ho Chi Minh.
“With this vision and aspiration in mind, I propose the creation of a KL metropolitan by way of returning KL to Selangor, so a Mega KL Metropolitan can be sustainably developed.
“Such integration will enhance developmental efficiency. Public transportation can be better orchestrated, and Selangor, with its expansive land bank, can provide a foundation for more affordable housing initiatives,” Lee said when debating on the 12th Malaysia Plan (12MP) Mid-Term Review in Parliament, earlier today.
He added such a merger would position the Klang Valley as a key hub in Southeast Asia, rivalling other mega metropolises.
“This idea may appear radical, but it is worth remembering that KL was once part of Selangor,” Lee said.
KL was first developed in the middle of the 19th century as a town serving the region’s tin mines, and was Selangor’s capital for several decades.
It later separated to become a Federal territory of Malaysia on February 1, 1974.
The MP said that if the proposal for reintegration istaken up, Kuala Lumpur residents could avail themselves of the numerous aid and programmes rolled out by the Selangor state government, including the 46 initiatives implemented under Iltizam Selangor Penyayang.
He also highlighted another pivotal benefit to his proposal — the opportunity for KL folk to exercise their voting rights, not only to elect MPs, but state assemblymen as well.
“Youths will have a second vote to elect a state assemblyman responsible for ensuring comprehensive basic infrastructure and providing direct assistance to residents.
“Regrettably, at the moment, KL residents are unable to access these benefits,” Lee said.
He said it is high time a proper development plan is drafted for KL and Selangor, to fulfil current demand for an improved socioeconomic and a more efficient administrative management.
“Today, we proudly claim Selangor can evolve into an economic powerhouse capable of competing with other major cities like Singapore, Jakarta, and Hanoi. Imagine the economic synergy we could unleash and the benefits that can be derived from the amalgamation,” Lee said.
As for Putrajaya, he said it can remain as Malaysia’s administrative capital.
