Around Us

Federal Territories and Urban Wellbeing Ministry secretary-general Datuk Ahmad Phesal Talib, 58, has been appointed as the new Kuala Lumpur mayor for a two-year term starting July 18.

Ahmad Phesal will be replacing Tan Sri Ahmad Fuad Ismail after his contract expires on July 15. Federal Territories and Urban Wellbeing Minister Datuk Raja Nong Chik Raja Zainal Abidin said Monday the King had given his consent for the appointment of Ahmad Phesal as the 10th mayor of Kuala Lumpur.

Nong Chik said Ahmad Phesal, who has served about 35 years in the public sector, had vast experience in the administration, development and planning of local authorities before he was appointed the secretary-general of the ministry in 2007.

He said when Ahmad Phesal was holding the secretary-general’s post, he was directly involved in policies regarding the Federal Territories, especially Kuala Lumpur such as the Greater Kuala Lumpur/Klang Valley, River Of Life and other development programmes.

“All this will help when he serves as mayor,” he added.

Nong Chik thanked outgoing mayor Ahmad Fuad for his service as the mayor. Born in Kedah on July 12, 1954, Ahmad Phesal began his stint in the public sector in 1977 as the administration and diplomatic officer and assistant director in the Economic Planning Division in the Prime Minister’s Office.

He also served as senior project officer in the Public Services Department, secretary of the Labuan Municipal Council, Seberang Perai Selatan district officer, and Balik Pulau district officer.

Ahmad Phesal also served as the Penang Land and Mines director in 2001. In 2004, he was appointed the Penang Municipal Council president where he served until 2006.

His last post before being appointed mayor was the secretary-general of the Federal Territories and Urban Wellbeing Ministry where he served for five years.



Ahmad Fuad was appointed as the ninth mayor on Dec 14, 2008, replacing Datuk Hakim Borhan. The mayor’s contract expired on Dec 14, 2010, but was given a six-month extension until July 15 last year. His contract was extended for another year to allow him to honour and follow through with commitments and promises made to the people, including the KL MPs.

Ahmad Phesal, who hails from Kedah, graduated with a Bachelor degree in Literature (in the Anthropology and Sociology field) from University Malaya in 1984.

This was followed by a Masters degree in Urban and Regional Planning from University of Wisconsin, USA in 1997. He subsequently he obtained a Diploma in Advanced Management from Harvard Business School in 2005.