Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Federal Territories), Hannah Yeoh, has dismissed viral claims that Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) employs only seven Indian staff members and one Chinese employee out of a workforce of 10,000, describing the information as completely false.
Responding to a poster circulating on WhatsApp, Hannah said the figures being shared did not reflect DBKL’s actual staffing data. She urged the public not to be misled by unverified information, particularly during the ongoing State Election campaign.
According to Hannah, as of 1 July, DBKL employed a total of 9,131 staff members, including 490 Indian employees and 22 Chinese employees. She added that within the Management and Professional category alone, there are 10 Indian officers and two Chinese officers.
While rejecting the viral claims, Hannah acknowledged that representation within DBKL could still be improved. She said she has instructed the local authority to review its recruitment data, hiring process, promotion records and job advertisement channels to better understand any existing gaps.
She explained that the review would help ensure future improvements are carried out in a transparent, fair and merit-based manner. Hannah stressed that strengthening diversity should be supported by accurate data rather than misinformation.
At the same time, the minister warned against allowing false claims to fuel racial tensions, especially during the election period. She said sensitive issues involving race and public institutions should not be exploited to divide communities.
Emphasising the importance of responsible public discourse, Hannah said discussions should be guided by verified facts while continuing efforts to address any genuine shortcomings within the system.
