KUALA LUMPUR – Kuala Lumpur Mayor Datuk Seri Maimunah Sharif has resigned from her post and is set to be reassigned to a new role within the federal government, sources in City Hall (DBKL) and Putrajaya told Scoop.
The reassignment is expected to be officially announced tomorrow, according to the sources, who emphasised that the move is an administrative decision rather than a result of any performance issue.
“She has not been asked to leave, and there is no issue with the minister,” said a senior DBKL source familiar with the matter.
“This is a planned reassignment and she’s moving to another part of the government. It’s a positive development, not a demotion.”
Another source close to Maimunah’s office said her resignation follows the early completion of several key initiatives during her tenure.
“Maimunah achieved most of the objectives set for her office ahead of schedule,” the source said.
“The government wants to leverage her expertise in a broader capacity, possibly in an international or strategic role.”
When contacted, Maimunah declined to comment, stating only that she had “no comment at this point.”
A source in the Federal Territories Ministry confirmed that Minister Datuk Seri Zaliha Mustafa has been briefed on the reassignment and supports the move.
“She’s highly regarded, and her next posting will reflect her experience and stature,” the ministry source said.
Maimunah, 64, was appointed Kuala Lumpur’s first woman mayor on August 15, 2024, succeeding Datuk Kamarulzaman Salleh following his compulsory retirement.
Prior to her appointment, she served six years as executive director of UN-Habitat in Nairobi, becoming the first Asian woman to hold the position.
She also led the Penang City Council and Seberang Perai Municipal Council, and served as president of the Malaysian Local Authorities Association.
Several DBKL officers described her tenure as “short but impactful,” noting her efforts to modernise governance, implement sustainable development initiatives, and strengthen federal-local collaboration.
“She brought international best practices and a strong focus on transparency and accountability,” said a mid-level DBKL officer.
“Her departure will leave big shoes to fill.”
Another source revealed that staff were informed of her resignation in a closed-door meeting earlier this week.
“Some of us were surprised, given ongoing projects, but she expressed confidence that DBKL is on track and thanked the staff for their support,” the officer said.
As of now, neither the Federal Territories Ministry nor DBKL has released an official statement regarding Maimunah’s resignation or reassignment. — November 13, 2025