Kuala Lumpur’s first female mayor shares her vision to reshape Malaysia’s capital

November 22, 2024

KUALA LUMPUR – AS SHE marks 100 days in office tomorrow, Kuala Lumpur mayor Datuk Seri Maimunah Mohd Sharif shares with StarMetro her vision for transforming the Malaysian capital into a developed and inclusive city.

In this candid interview, the former Penang Island City Council mayor, 63, discusses her ambitions to reshape Kuala Lumpur’s landscape through the proposed Urban Redevelopment Act (URA), which aims to revitalise urban areas.

Kuala Lumpur’s first female mayor wants to encourage a shift towards vertical living and addresses challenges of creating a sustainable, equitable environment for all.Developing upwards Maimunah said there was a need for a new mindset around vertical living.

“The URA is still a proposal, so I won’t go into details.

“However, for the redevelopment of ageing flats across the city, residents must understand the financial responsibilities tied to this modern lifestyle and adjust their expectations accordingly.

“Moving into larger units with more facilities will come with higher maintenance costs.

“When we redevelop, we aim to do so alongside the people who have lived there for decades,” she added.

Having worked for the United Nations for six years as executive director of the Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat), and having visited 1,600 cities in 93 countries, Maimunah observed that, “With limited land resources, vertical development is our only option.

“We can look to cities like Singapore and Hong Kong, which also had to go vertical.

In terms of housing, the mayor says vertical development is the only option. PHOTO: THE STAR

“However, this growth must be guided by density- and plot-ratio guidelines to ensure it doesn’t disrupt residents’ lives.”

Beyond regulations, Maimunah