WITH little over a week left in the year, Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) has yet to table its 2026 budget, an unusual delay that has raised concerns over transparency and accountability. Civic groups and several Kuala Lumpur MPs described the delay as worrying, citing DBKL’s large budget and its direct impact on residents’ daily lives. “This raises questions about transparency and public participation,” he said, adding that DBKL’s budget was larger than even some state governments, making public engagement and disclosure even more critical. “DBKL has not been transparent enough in its budget cycle, with public involvement largely ending at the budget town hall session. After Pakatan Harapan won the 14th General Election in 2018, Kuala Lumpur lawmakers were, for the first time, allowed to provide input on DBKL’s budget.

Source: The Star December 22, 2025 02:13 UTC