KL Mayor Maimunah to Join PETRONAS as Property Advisor
KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 13: Kuala Lumpur Mayor Datuk Seri Dr. Maimunah Mohd Sharif will be leaving Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) earlier than planned to take up a senior position at PETRONAS.
Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar announced that the Yang di-Pertuan Agong had consented to shorten Maimunah’s tenure by nine months, from the original end date of August 14, 2026, to November 14, 2025, to facilitate her transition.
Maimunah, 64, will officially assume her new role as Property Advisor at PETRONAS on November 17, where she is expected to oversee major land and development projects, including the Bandar Malaysia initiative.
A government source said her appointment reflects PETRONAS’ intent to leverage her extensive expertise in urban planning, sustainable development, and governance, honed during her tenure as Executive Director of UN-Habitat and now as Kuala Lumpur’s first female mayor.
During her one-year tenure at DBKL, Maimunah was credited with transforming city governance, modernizing services, and improving financial management. Under her leadership, DBKL recorded a RM27.6 million surplus in 2024, reversing years of deficits.
She also championed several sustainable city initiatives, including zero-carbon programs, circular waste management systems, and the Urban Climate Resilience Program. Her leadership helped elevate Kuala Lumpur’s global profile through collaborations with UNICEF and ASEAN urban forums ahead of Malaysia’s ASEAN chairmanship in 2025.
Maimunah’s achievements have earned her numerous accolades, including the PRCA Malaysia Leadership Award, the Nona Superwoman Award, the Best Local Authority Leader Award, and the Women Economic Forum’s “Woman of the Decade” title. Most recently, she received the 2025 Leadership Award from Fira de Barcelona at the World Smart City Expo.
Tan Sri Shamsul expressed the government’s appreciation for her service, noting that her legacy at DBKL has set new benchmarks in city management. He also voiced confidence that her expertise will guide PETRONAS’ landmark development projects in alignment with Madani aspirations.
Maimunah made history in August 2024 as Kuala Lumpur’s 15th mayor and the first woman to lead the capital. She succeeded Datuk Seri Kamarulzaman Mat Salleh.
Meanwhile, sources suggest that Putrajaya Corporation president Datuk Fadlun Mak Ujud is among the frontrunners to succeed Maimunah as the next Kuala Lumpur mayor, though no official announcement has been made.