I had the privilege of meeting Datuk Seri Dr Zaleha Mustafa for nearly two hours at her office shortly after she assumed the role of Minister of Federal Territories. In my view, she stands out as one of the most capable ministers in the Madani cabinet.
In fact, her constituents in Sekijang should be proud of their member of parliament doing great things to revive Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya and Labuan, a task that requires her attention.
During our conversation, I shared a concern close to my heart: Kuala Lumpur, despite its modern façade, has become a "soulless city."
When Datuk Seri Maimunah Mohd Shariff was tipped to become Mayor of Kuala Lumpur, I was genuinely excited. Back in 2012-3, I had hoped she might one day take on that role—though it seemed impossible at the time.
Instead, I recommended her to Lim Guan Eng, urging him to “keep an eye on this lady. She appears to be good.” At the time, she was serving as Council President of Seberang Jaya, and I had interviewed her for the magazine, Green Prospects Asia produced by Lim Siang Jin, who was kind to provide me a PDF copy of my article which I could once again share with people.
Maimunah's proactive leadership and commitment to recycling initiatives in Seberang Prai left a lasting impression for me. She was also very good with her public relations, befitting a council president.
Now, in their second year of service, both Datuk Seri Dr Zaleha and Datuk Seri Maimunah have demonstrated the transformative power of women in leadership.
Naturally, their reforms have met resistance—particularly from those who benefited from the status quo, including individuals profiting from the rental of stalls under Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL). Yet, progress is evident. Following the demolition of stalls selling pirated goods in Chinatown, Petaling Street has experienced a revival. Rental is also so much cheaper so that traders can earn a good living and Kuala Lumpur can be prosperous once again.
To me, this is women power! Bravo to our two ladies!
Dead Tasik now Bustling with Activities
Tasik Titiwangsa, once a neglected space, has also been rejuvenated. It now hosts vibrant events and offers recreational activities that make it a welcoming destination for locals and a showcase for overseas guests. When a nephew from Melbourne visited Malaysia, I was able to bring him and my daughter to visit the lake, and joined them on a fun boat ride together.
Just last week, in conjunction with Hari Malaysia, Tourism Malaysia organised a bazaar that drew large crowds. With continued collaboration between Tourism Malaysia and tour operators, we may soon see more coaches bringing visitors to the lake. Since MRT Hospital is so nearby, they should encourage people to take the train, and ride the Rapid KL coaches, since parking is a problem whenever you have thousands of people flocking to a major event like the Hari Malaysia bazaar.
Those of us who have travelled abroad are familiar with curated cultural experiences—such as the water puppet shows and the traditional Vietnamese game Bầu cua cá cọp at Hanoi’s night markets, or the thrilling “hell rider” performances in Shanghai.
If only the Opposition could stop the politicking of Kampung Melayu and parts of the kampung could be thoughtfully developed into tourist-friendly zones, we could offer a complete cultural circuit: Little India, Kampung Melayu, and Chinatown, culminating in a relaxing evening at Tasik Titiwangsa.
A bazaar featuring diverse local delicacies—especially crowd-pullers like roti canai terbang—would ensure a memorable experience for tourists and locals alike.
Now, I can feel proud to welcome our guests to Malaysia, not only during Visit Malaysia Year 2026, but many more years to come.
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