Study on proposed amendments to Federal Capital Act to be completed end of March

KUALA LUMPUR: A feasibility study on proposed amendments to the Federal Capital Act 1960 to allow local government elections (LGOs) in the capital, including the election of the Mayor of Kuala Lumpur, is expected to be completed by the end of this month.

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Federal Territories) Hannah Yeoh said the study, conducted by the International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM), is currently ongoing, and an interim report has already been presented to the government.

“After March, it will be ready; otherwise, they (UIAM) will meet with us. They have met once, and there is an interim report, but the stakeholder interviews are still ongoing.

“It has yet to be tabled before the Cabinet. I have to wait for the study to be completed first,” she said at a press conference on strengthening fire safety awareness in Kuala Lumpur’s high-density strata buildings here on Monday (March 9).

Previously, Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil urged all parties not to underestimate the capability of public universities such as IIUM in conducting studies on the feasibility of local authority elections and the appointment of the Kuala Lumpur Mayor.

On Feb 3, Hannah said the feasibility study on holding local authority elections in the capital, including the election of the Kuala Lumpur Mayor, had already begun during the tenure of the previous Federal Territories minister.

She said the study commenced last December following the tabling of a Private Member’s Bill in the Dewan Rakyat by a Member of Parliament. – Bernama