Disappointed Kuala Lumpur stakeholders have started a petition calling for the removal of Federal Territories Minister Khalid Samad.
The online petition lists examples which reflect on Khalid’s poor performance as minister, including acting against public interest and claiming that he is now a mouthpiece of developers.
Those who initiated the petition claimed Khalid had among others gazetted a Kuala Lumpur City Plan (KLCP 2020) which didn’t see public participation and consultation as required under Section 14 of the Federal Territory (Planning) Act 1982.
They claimed Khalid, who is Shah Alam MP, had also acted against public interest by retaining the controversial Yayasan Wilayah Persekutuan and appointing his fellow political associates and/or officials to the new board of trustees of the foundation.
The petition reads:
Khalid Samad has changed! He is now acting as the mouthpiece of developers! This can be seen in the following cases:
1. He has called for a fresh hearing for Taman Tiara Titiwangsa despite the court ruling that Kuala Lumpur City Hall did not adhere to Rule 5 of the Planning Development Amendment Rules 1994 under the Federal Territory Planning Act 1982.
2. His blatant disregard to the pleas of the Segambut MP Hannah Yeoh and Taman Tun Dr Ismail residents who only wish to protect one of the last green lungs in Kuala Lumpur (in reference to Taman Rimba Kiara) including his inconsistent stand on the amount to be refunded, which he calls compensation.
3. The manner he brushes off the residents’ protest with regards to a development project at the Federal Hill (Bukit Persekutuan) at Bangsar.
4. The way he keeps making policy announcements without consulting stakeholders such as the closure of Jalan TAR and the closure of night entertainment spots at 1am.
5. His repeated micromanagement of the operations of DBKL which seems to suggest the mayor is unable to act independently.
6. His gazetting of a City Plan that was not the original formed through public consultation and which included 273 developments admittedly not complying with the KLCP2020, made without stakeholder consultation.


The petition also states that Kuala Lumpur is in a dire situation due to the grave wrongdoings of the previous FT Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor and the current FT Minister and the only way to correct the situation is by bringing in a new FT Minister that has the credibility to implement the promises in the Pakatan Harapan manifesto.
Twentytwo13 had in a report last month reported frustration was mounting among KLites and it was ironic that the people who voted for change to bring down a 61-year-old government in Malaysia are now finding themselves ‘fighting’ the new Pakatan Harapan administration.
The report had stated one of the main reasons stakeholders were disappointed was the decision-makers’ lack of understanding of local matters and those who still believe the government knows best.