KUALA LUMPUR, June 6 — His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia, has decreed that there should be no delay in gazetting Kuala Lumpur’s green spaces and flood retention ponds, Federal Territories Minister Hannah Yeoh said today.

The matter was raised during Yeoh’s recent audience with the Yang di-Pertuan Agong at Istana Negara, where she also briefed His Majesty on reform initiatives being undertaken by her ministry and Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL).

“The Yang di-Pertuan Agong decreed that we must not delay the decision on the gazetting of areas such as green zones and flood retention ponds, because these are areas of public interest.

“We must expedite it.

“That is why the task force we established is highly crucial for us to protect all these public spaces, as well as for the safety of our senior citizens,” Yeoh told reporters after launching the KL Architecture Festival’s Tropical Fruit Pavilion in Titiwangsa here today.

The issue of flood retention ponds has come under scrutiny following reports that a Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) investigation found several key flood mitigation sites in Kuala Lumpur, including in Jinjang and Batu, had received protection approvals in 1998, but were never formally gazetted.

As a result, the land remained ungazetted for nearly two decades before a land working committee revoked the 1998 approvals in 2015 and alienated about 80 acres of flood retention land to private developers for mixed-use residential projects.

Separately, Yeoh said Kuala Lumpur already has sufficient infrastructure and that the current focus is on improving and revitalising public recreational spaces, particularly for families.

Among the measures introduced is the extension of operating hours at 10 major public parks in the capital, including Titiwangsa Lake Gardens and Perdana Botanical Gardens.

“We are moving the opening time forward from 6am to 5.30am.

“Furthermore, on Fridays and Saturdays, we are extending the closing time from 10pm until 12.30am.

“This is because we want these families to have a healthy environment where they can go out and enjoy time together,” she said.

 

KUALA LUMPUR, June 6 — Housing and Local Government Ministry (KPKT) minister Nga Kor Ming revealed that Kuala Lumpur now ranks 65th in the global smart city index. 

Speaking at the launch of the KL Architecture Festival’s (KLAF) Tropical Fruit Pavilion launch at Titiwangsa Lake Garden this morning, Nga also said that KL is among the top 10 most popular cities in the world in terms of international tourist arrivals according to Mastercard.

The launch was also attended by the Federal Territories minister Hannah Yeoh as well as KL mayor Datuk Fadlun Mak Ujud. 

“Among thousands, we are ranked number 65. 

“And I’m fully confident under Hannah and Datuk Fadlun’s leadership, KL is going to be in the top 50 soon,” Nga said. 

He added that KL is also ranked number four globally for a city with the most skyscrapers. 

“To my surprise as well, KL is ranked number four in the world for a city with the most numbers of high skyscrapers. 

“We currently have 494 buildings that are actually qualified as skyscrapers,”Nga added. 

Touching on the KLAF’S Tropical Fruit Pavillion in Titiwangsa, Nga said that there are around 12 interactive pavillions that have has been installed at the park starting today until this December. 

He said that this is an example of how architecture can transcend conventional boundaries and be meaningfully integrated into public spaces, allowing people from all walks of life to engage with design in an open and inclusive setting. 

“At KPKT, we strive to create liveable and, most important, lovable communities.

“We want to build urban environments that are not only economically vibrant but also economically resilient, culturally expressive, and socially inclusive,” he said. 

KUALA LUMPUR, June 8 — The Federal Territories minister said she will no longer convene Kuala Lumpur’s Special One Stop Centre (OSC) and will seek Cabinet approval to abolish the body, saying it could create room for interference or the perception of interference in development decisions.

In a statement today, Hannah Yeoh said the move forms part of the government’s broader governance reform agenda aimed at strengthening integrity and transparency in Kuala Lumpur’s urban planning system.

The decision follows recommendations by Project Capital, a special task force under the Policy Advisory Committee to the Prime Minister (PMAC), which was tasked by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim with reviewing governance challenges in the federal capital.

According to the task force’s report, the Special OSC had the potential to become a channel for intervention in the development approval process.

“The Madani Government cannot defend any structure that creates room for interference or the perception that a decision can be influenced by factors other than legitimate laws and planning policies,” Yeoh said.

“That is why we want to return to a clear principle: follow the Local Plan, follow the law and follow a transparent process.”

Yeoh said she had decided not to convene the Special OSC for as long as she remains Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Federal Territories), while also proposing that the Cabinet consider formally abolishing the mechanism in line with Project Capital’s recommendations.

The minister said Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) had already introduced measures aimed at improving transparency and accountability in planning approvals.

These include a dedicated OSC portal that allows stakeholders and members of the public to monitor development applications currently being processed.

Yeoh said DBKL had also streamlined its internal procedures to ensure that applications are assessed based on the Kuala Lumpur Local Plan 2040.

Under the revised process, development applications that fully comply with stipulated requirements can be approved in as little as 21 days.

For more complex proposals requiring further consideration, consultations with government agencies, departments, organisations and other stakeholders will continue under existing planning regulations.

Yeoh also stressed that urban planning decisions should remain in the hands of qualified officials rather than be subject to external influence.

“Every development decision needs to be made by experienced officers based on assessments of technical documents, comments from relevant departments and the approved Kuala Lumpur Local Plan,” she said.

“Urban planning decisions must be made based on facts, policy and law, not influenced by any party.”

She said abolishing the Special OSC would remove unnecessary layers of bureaucracy, speed up decision-making and provide clearer accountability within DBKL’s administration.

Yeoh also thanked Anwar for establishing Project Capital, saying its recommendations reflected the government’s commitment to strengthening governance, improving accountability and carrying out institutional reforms for Kuala Lumpur’s future.