KUALA LUMPUR, JULY 16 — Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) has implemented 16 governance and code of conduct reform initiatives within the past six months, after recording a low score for the Corruption in Public Service Ranking under the Local Authority Star Rating System 2025.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Federal Territories), Hannah Yeoh said that DBKL only obtained 0.08 percent of the five percent marks set, thus prompting the local authority to take drastic steps to realise the reality of the scores obtained.
He said, based on the findings of a study by the International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) after an engagement session with Kuala Lumpur Members of Parliament on March 2, four main recommendations were identified to strengthen DBKL’s administration, governance, integrity and service delivery system.
The Segambut MP said, among other things, taking action against five procedural weaknesses identified by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).
“It is the management of the implementation of the radio studio broadcast content production project, the management and distribution of the Ramadan Bazaar site, the management and monitoring of the contract implementation of various business license management services, the governance of the Malaysian Statutory Bodies Association Sports Championship, and the management of rental collection for People’s Housing and Public Housing projects by DBKL.
“In addition, we have also abolished the Special One-Stop Service Centre (OSC) Committee to ensure the separation of powers and avoid political interference in the development process and decisions,” he said in response to a question from Tan Kok Wai (PH-Cheras) regarding the list of DBKL governance reforms during Ministerial Question Time in the Dewan Rakyat today.
Hannah said that access to the OSC 3.0 Plus Portal is now also open to all Kuala Lumpur Members of Parliament to enable them to review development applications and submit their views to the Mayor before any approval is given.
He said that DBKL also limited the Mayor’s authority to approve donations to a maximum of RM3,000, while applications exceeding that amount must be decided by the Supreme Management Committee.
Hannah said several new committees, including the Audit Committee, the Governance and Integrity Committee and the Mayor’s Contribution Committee, were also established to strengthen checks and balances and avoid conflicts of interest.
Responding to Tan’s additional question, Hannah said the reform aimed to change the decision-making culture at DBKL from a model focused on individuals to a system based on good governance, collective decisions and integrity.
Meanwhile, he said that the Audit Committee is no longer chaired by the Mayor, in addition to DBKL implementing work rotation for officers holding sensitive positions, introducing the use of body cameras in phases starting in the fourth quarter of this year, and expanding the digitalization of services.
“A total of 170 online application services have been established as of July and DBKL is targeting 180 end-to-end services by the end of the year to ensure more transparent, fast and accurate service delivery. By 2030, all applications will be carried out online.”
“With the e-License system, we no longer need to rely on runners and we have also integrated e-License and SPJ (Department Enforcement System).
“Through the renewal of the license period implemented starting July 1, we are extending the license period to three years to ensure that all licensees can deal easily with DBKL,” he said.
— BERNAMA
