What KL’s more affluent voters want

Residents claim KL City Hall is not following density guidelines when approving high-rise buildings in the city.

(FMT) – In many parts of the country, particularly in rural areas, a prime concern of voters is the rising cost of living.

Against this backdrop, all political parties have pledged initiatives to tackle this problem — from abolishing the unpopular goods and services tax (GST) to increasing 1Malaysia People’s Aid (BR1M) payments from RM1,200 to RM2,000.

But what do voters, who society deems “have everything”, want?

High on Mohd Shukri Zain’s list of priorities is security and a better standard of living.

The 53-year-old businessman said in the Sri Hartamas area, overdevelopment is an issue as the grievances brought forward to the local authorities have fallen on deaf ears. 

“What we ask of DBKL (KL City Hall) isn’t ridiculous. DBKL hardly responds and has a habit of bulldozing through what it wants, without regards to plot ratio and density guidelines,” he told FMT after a meet-the-people session with BN’s Segambut candidate Loga Bala Mohan.

“We just want DBKL to follow the plot ratios and density guidelines.”

He added that the issue of overdevelopment had resulted in ridiculous traffic jams and parking woes in the area.

Homemaker Ling Wei Lin wants an MP who is vocal on issues of corruption and transparency.

“But I also want my MP to be accessible and come down to the ground.

“Lim Lip Eng was the MP here for two terms but he never came here to meet the residents.

“I don’t see why an MP can’t be both vocal and accessible.”

She added that security is a real concern. While break-ins and petty thefts have decreased in the area in recent years, Ling said people shouldn’t have to pay for security as it was the responsibility of the authorities.

Ling pays RM100 a month for the neighbourhood’s private security service, but is irked by residents not bothering to pay. Only 65% pay up but everyone enjoys the service.

Retiree Rosman Omar wants his MP to ensure parks are well maintained.

He also wants his MP to resolve the long-standing strata title issue facing 360 homeowners of Taman Sri Hartamas.

“The developer, Seri Hartamas Development Corporation, was supposed to handle the issuance of strata titles, but went bankrupt. So, all the titles are with the Insolvency Department,” he said, adding this made it difficult for the homes there to be sold.

Loga is being challenged by DAP’s Hannah Yeoh and PAS’ Mohd Solleh Ab Razak in Segambut.

The previous Segambut MP (Lip Eng) is now standing in Kepong in the upcoming election.