Kuala Lumpur City Hall’s (DBKL) disobedience to the order banning new luxury projects worth at over RM1 million across the country shows that the Federal Government cannot fully control its subordinates.
“DBKL’s defiance of a cabinet directive demonstrates just how toothless Putrajaya’s is,” claimed Petaling Jaya Utara MP Tony Pua.
He said the city hall’s refusal to follow the freeze on high-end properties is alarming, given that the city and Klang Valley are among the areas with many un-occupied offices as noted by Bank Negara Malaysia.
Last month, Second Finance Minister Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Gani announced that all new projects involving upscale homes, shopping malls, and commercial complexes will be temporarily disallowed starting on 1 November 2017.
While Johari subsequently clarified that the moratorium applies across the board, Pua asked how will the Federal Government ensure the luxury property freeze is strictly implemented given DBKL’s refusal to enforce it.
Its insubordination could also give other local authorities the idea that they have the autonomy to decide whether to follow Putrajaya’s ban or ignore it, noted Pua. As such, he is calling the Federal Government to ensure that its orders are strictly followed by its subordinate agencies
“Otherwise, you may have the world’s best policy-makers and the highest paid consultants, but all would be wasted with a government effectively run by politically entrenched warlords and little Napoleons.”
Previously, Kuala Lumpur Mayor Tan Sri Mohd Amin Nordin Abd Aziz told lawmakers on Tuesday (12 December) that the freeze on upscale properties is not yet being implemented in the capital.
The Mayor told us that “the ban would not be feasible for Kuala Lumpur, especially in the Golden Triangle area. However, DBKL would suggest to the Finance Ministry that the ban be implemented in other areas of the city,” said Segambut MP Lim Lip Eng.
Image sourced from Malay Mail.
This article was edited by the editorial team of PropertyGuru. To contact them about this or other stories email editorialteam@propertyguru.com.my
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