Former district officer shamed by the ‘broom incident’ is now the new KL mayor
Nor Hisham has 37 years’ experience in govt agencies
FORMER Subang Jaya Municipal Council (MPSJ) president Datuk Nor Hisham Ahmad Dahlan, who was yesterday appointed the new Kuala Lumpur mayor, could not help but recall the infamous “broom award” that dotted his career.
The episode, where then Selangor menteri besar Dr Mohamad Khir Toyo, presented his district with a broom when he was serving the Hulu Selangor District Council in 2007, chokes him up when he talks about it.
“When I was called to receive the broom from the then menteri besar, I had just been promoted from the Federal Territories Ministry to the district as the Hulu Selangor M52 district officer in September that year.
“The award was given in December 2007 on the grounds of unsatisfactory tax collection of less than 40 per cent in 2006... the MDHS president at that time was Tukiman Nail.
“Although it was not during my tenure, I took full responsibility. Some say it was one of the reasons why Barisan Nasional lost Selangor,” he said in response to a question on the episode, after a handover of responsibilities and duties ceremony here yesterday.
Nor Hisham said after the episode, he tried to improve the tax collection, and within two years, the hard work paid off with the council receiving an award of excellence and RM100,000 from former menteri besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim in 2009.
“We (at MDHS) achieved more than 92 per cent tax collection within two years, and we received the recognition from the State Government,” Nor Hisham said.
He replaced Tan Sri Mhd Amin Nordin Abd Aziz, who stepped down from the post on Sept 30.
His appointment as the 12th mayor was consented by Yang diPertuan Agong Sultan Muhammad V in accordance with Part II, Section 4(2) of the Federal Capital Act 1960.
The appointment was announced by Federal Territories Minister Khalid Samad in a handover ceremony at the Kuala Lumpur City Hall headquarters.
Khalid commended Nor Hisham on how he turned the ugly episode around and proved his worth.
“As the head, even though he accepted the broom on behalf of others, it was a bitter experience. But this spurred the local authority to show its ability and prove them wrong, in a short period of time.”
Khir, in responding to the flak he received for the broom award, was reported to have said that it was not done to humiliate local authorities, but that it was a signal for the local authorities to buck up.
Nor Hisham, 62, retired in May last year after serving with the Subang Jaya Municipal Council since 2014 but continued to serve after being offered a one-year contract because his performance.
He has 37 years of experience in government agencies such as Gombak District Land Office, Economic Planning Unit, Prime Minister’s Department, Federal Territories Ministry and Selangor State Secretary Office.