Senator Dato’ Vincent Wu has urged the government to implement a phased transition toward local government elections in Kuala Lumpur, proposing a unique “11+11” mixed-member proportional system to enhance accountability and representation in the national capital.
Speaking during the debate on the Motion of Thanks for the Royal Address in the Dewan Negara, the DAP National Central Executive Committee (CEC) member highlighted that Kuala Lumpur residents currently lack a second layer of representation despite contributing billions in taxes to the DBKL that manages an annual budget exceeding RM3 billion.
“In states like Negeri Sembilan and Selangor, residents have both Parliamentary and State (DUN) representatives. In contrast, Kuala Lumpur citizens only have a single parliamentary vote, with no direct say in who manages their basic amenities like drainage, waste, and street lighting,” said Wu, who is also the Senator for Negeri Sembilan.
To address this, Wu proposed a Two-Stage Transition Plan. The first stage involves amending the Federal Capital Act 1960 to allow for the direct election of the Mayor, ensuring the office is accountable to taxpayers rather than the Federal Territories Department. The second stage suggests the establishment of a City Representative Council using a “11+11” system modeled after the London Assembly. Under this model, 11 members would be elected via existing Parliamentary constituencies, while another 11 would be appointed via a Party List to ensure proportional representation and prevent any single-party dominance.
Wu dismissed concerns regarding racial polarization by citing 2020 Census data, which shows a balanced demographic of 47.7% Bumiputera, 41.6% Chinese, and 10% India. “The Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) by Athi Nahappan previously stated that local elections are a laboratory for unity, not a cause for division. Issues like flash floods and uncollected trash do not recognize race; they require efficient, accountable governance,” he added.
“We are moving toward a future of Smart Cities and AI, yet we are still practicing an ‘Old Democracy.’ Kuala Lumpur should once again lead the way in democratic reform, just as it did during the 1952 local elections that paved the path to our independence,” he said.
Shifting his focus to national integrity, the Senator also called for a Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) to investigate allegations involving Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Chief Commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki. Wu argued that recent claims of share ownership and the emergence of a “Corporate Mafia” network have severely eroded public trust in the commission.
“The current internal investigations lack the statutory teeth to compel witnesses or seize sensitive documents. We need an independent RCI led by former Chief Justice Tun Tengku Maimun to restore the MACC’s image,” Wu stated. He further demanded the immediate suspension of Tan Sri Azam Baki pending the inquiry and urged the Ministry of Home Affairs to clarify a Bloomberg report regarding a “pistol display” incident involving high-ranking enforcement figures in June 2023.
Wu concluded by reminding the government of its manifesto promise to place the MACC under the direct jurisdiction of Parliament rather than the Prime Minister’s Office. He stressed that structural reforms are no longer optional if the government is serious about ending the systemic abuse of power.