KUALA LUMPUR, March 17 (Bernama) -- The 'KL Wireless Metropolitan' or 'Wireless@KL' project to transform Kuala Lumpur into a 'wireless city' with world-class communication channels will begin in May, city mayor Datuk Ab. Hakim Borhan said today.

"In line with the Wireless@KL project, a community website, KUL.COM.MY, will also be set up and updated regularly to provide the relevant information to city dwellers," Ab.Hakim told reporters after the signing of a memorandum of agreement (MOA) on the Metropolitan Kuala Lumpur portal project between Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) and Synapse Technologies (M) Sdn Bhd.

The agreement is under the initiative of the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) on behalf of the government, which has provided a grant of RM500,000 to City Hall for the purpose.

On Dec 17 last year, City Hall signed a memorandum of understanding on Wireless@KL with MCMC and Packet One Networks (M) Sdn Bhd to enhance broadband facilities for City Hall offices and community centres and both public and residential areas in the Klang Valley by 2010.

"Wireless@KL uses WiMAX technology and for the first phase of this project 1,500 Wi-Fi zones will be developed," Ab. HAkim said.

He also said the KUL.COM.MY portal will be a "one-stop source of information" on Kuala Lumpur for people in and out of the country.

The information will cover social, development, economic, trade, education, entertainment, tourism and other aspects, he said.

Ab. Hakim said the portal will use the "broad spectrum approach" where it will collate and upgrade information from various sources for user convenience.

He also said from May 19-22, Kuala Lumpur will host the World Congress IT 2008 where thousands of users, "developers", vendors and information technology experts will gather here, and in conjunction with the event City Hall will launch its portal.

On the proposal by the DAP that the mayor be elected rather than be appointed, Ab. Hakim said the position was under the authority of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong and this could not be challenged by anyone.

He said if someone were to challenge the appointment of the mayor it would be tantomount to challenging the constitution as the appointment was made under Section 4 of the Federal Capital Act 1960.

"The Kuala Lumpur City Hall mayor is supposed to serve for five years and is assisted by the City Hall Advisory Board whose members are also appointed by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong under Section 6 of the act," he said.

Ab. Hakim said if the DAP wanted to change the appointment procedure, the party must get Parliament to do it.

-- BERNAMA