By Danial Dzulkifly
GOMBAK, Sept 23 — The proposed return of Kuala Lumpur to Selangor can only be done if the Federal government decides to no longer designate the city as Malaysia’s capital, along with other conditions set out in the 1974 agreement, said Dato’ Seri Amirudin Shari.
The Menteri Besar said a clause within the agreement specifies that Selangor is denied concession over Kuala Lumpur ‘for as long as the moon and stars exist’, while the city retains its status as the nation’s capital.
“The term explicitly states we must relinquish Kuala Lumpur ‘for as long as the moon and stars exist’ — that phrase is actually in the agreement.
“But while that remains the case, there is potential in the future for Kuala Lumpur to be returned to Selangor. If the (Federal) government no longer designates Kuala Lumpur as the administrative centre, technically, Selangor has the right to reclaim it.
“Still, it will demand significant political will and meticulous planning (if this were to be the case),” he told the press on the sidelines after the official handover ceremony of the completed project for the upgrading of Jalan B23, Jalan Sungai Tua and the Kampung Bendahara Sungai Tua junctions, yesterday.
While Amirudin acknowledged that, on paper, it may seem feasible to include Kuala Lumpur in Selangor to form a land bank and improve public mobility, the rationale for the separation of the nation’s capital is altogether different.
“It is not a straightforward matter as Kuala Lumpur has firmly established itself as a financial and economic hub, and there may be Federal government strategic policies that we cannot oppose.
“The separation of Kuala Lumpur was originally initiated with a different spirit,” he said, referring to the historical context that led to the secession of Kuala Lumpur from Selangor.
On September 13, Petaling Jaya MP Lee Chean Chung called for Kuala Lumpur to be returned to Selangor to pave the way for better economic synergy and the city’s prosperous and sustainable development.
While debating the mid-term review of the 12th Malaysia Plan (12MP) in the Dewan Rakyat, the government backbencher envisioned Klang Valley as one of the key hubs in the region, comparable to other mega metropolises.
Lee added that while Selangor and Kuala Lumpur have seen significant growth over the past four decades, recent stagnation necessitates a paradigm shift in planning and execution.
Kuala Lumpur, a 240-sq-km enclave that was once Selangor’s state capital, was handed over to the Federal government in 1974, becoming Malaysia’s first conurbation to be granted city status.
