Derek Fernandez, who is also a lawyer, told FMT that this was the correct and proper forum for the MPs’ participation rather than the Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) advisory board which was earlier mooted.
“And which advisory board actually sits below the ministerial council in the hierarchy of administrative power?” he said.
“It is the right body because there are no state government federal territories. You don’t have exco and state assemblymen, so there is no avenue for them.
“This is the right avenue to bridge the gap between the other states and federal territories.”
On Sunday, Federal Territories Minister Khalid Abdul Samad said the council was set up to oversee policies and the development of the national capital.
This came a month after the federal government told DBKL to halt meetings of its board of advisors, half of whom comprised Barisan Nasional politicians.
Fernandez said similar bodies should be set up in Labuan and Putrajaya as well, as these areas are also part of the federal territories.
“There should be a similar structure where their MPs can play a role in the decision making,” he said.
He also dismissed concerns of abuse of power, saying the MPs would only have authority over policy matters.
“Then it will go back to the Kuala Lumpur advisory committee. They, together with the minister, will have to collectively decide with the participation of all.
“If you want checks and balances, there will also be DBKL,” he added.