All I want for FT Day is ...

In conjunction with Federal Territories (FT) Day, Astro Awani asked several leaders what are their wishes for this year's celebration.

FT Umno Youth Chief Datuk Rizalman Mokhtar said he hoped to see traffic congestion and public housing issues in the city resolved.

“We actually have everything in Kuala Lumpur but we are still facing traffic congestion woes,” Rizalman said.

He said he hoped the government would set aside more allocation for public transport so that “one day we can have people who are not embarrassed to be taking public transport".

“I also hope the Federal Territories and Urban Wellbeing Ministry and KL City Hall will be able to allocate more public housing schemes for the younger generation.”

“We know that City Hall provide a housing schemes for the lower and middle income group, but we must also realise the houses we have today have been occupied by the same group for the past 20 to 30 years.

Wangsa Maju MP Wee Choo Keong said issues surrounding Kuala Lumpur will always be linked with the performance of City Hall.

“Firstly, City Hall must perform their duties well as they are the administrators of Kuala Lumpur. So whatever we say is meaningless if they do not change their attitude and if the top officers do not perform their duties properly,” Wee said.

He said it would be difficult for Kuala Lumpur to transform into a world class city if issues such as public transportation and lack of space for petty traders remain to be a problem.

He also said local council elections should be held because an elected mayor would be more accountable to the people.

Meanwhile, Kepong MP Dr Tan Seng Giaw said more efforts must be done to improve areas of green development, transport, flood, and crime.

“There should be proper planning when it comes to development. Emphasis should be placed on the environment and there must be more green areas in the city.”

"I want to see tenders that are truly open, where projects are conducted well and not abandoned," Dr Tan added.

MCA’s FT chairman Tan Chai Ho said City Hall should work closely federal government to overcome traffic congestion, flooding and safety issues.

Tan explained that the committee should also include government as well as private entities, including experts, and not necessarily politicians only.

Segambut MP Lim Lip Eng said that he would like to see City Hall officers 'turun padang' (go to the ground) to address the potholes in our roads and non-functioning facilities in the city.

I also hope that City Hall would build more multilevel parking lots as oppose to them giving out more permits for the development of condominiums and commercial buildings.