The Selangor state government could more effectively address urban planning and service delivery through the principle of subsidiarity – delegating authority to the level closest to the affected community.
Reintroducing local government elections, a cause ruling coalition Pakatan Harapan once championed, would further increase accountability. Synergising policy planning to reduce overlap between Selangor and Kuala Lumpur would also reduce duplication of efforts.
For instance, cleaning and rejuvenating the Klang River, which flows through both Selangor and Kuala Lumpur, has been challenging because coordination is needed between the state and federal governments. When both entities are not politically aligned, decision-making is complicated. Unifying governance would streamline such initiatives.
That said, maintaining Kuala Lumpur as a neutral administrative hub independent from state control may appeal to investors. Shah Alam could continue to serve as a governance capital to address Selangor’s needs.
Managing Kuala Lumpur’s hefty budget may strain Selangor’s administrative capacity, and resources may be allocated towards urban rather than rural areas.
However, Kuala Lumpur’s high property value would mean that Selangor can derive higher revenue from the land tax (also known as quit rent) charged on the city’s properties. In addition, reintegrating Kuala Lumpur into Selangor may also entail the transfer of assets, which could generate further state government income.
