Bukit Kiara Supporters Fretting Over Perimeter Fencing In The Park
Tricky: Some parts of the fence are located on steep slopes which might be difficult to access in case of repair and maintenance work
By Vijenthi Nair, [email protected]
Photos by Brian Moh and Henry Goh
The waiting game for Bukit Kiara to be gazetted as a green lung continues.
Although it has been more than three months since a stop-work order was issued to all development work in Bukit Kiara, there has been no news on its green lung status — a cause that Bukit Kiara stakeholders have been fighting for a long time.
There was a public outcry on the damage caused by the construction of a perimeter fencing undertaken by the National Landcape Depart-ment (JLN). The fence was part of a project to demarcate the park.
Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Seri Chor Chee Heung had suggested at a public discussion in Bangunan Bakti on July 31 that Bukit Kiara would be gazetted in phases as part of the land had been leased.
This was to instil confidence among the public that Bukit Kiara would remain a green lung, after the erection of the perimeter fencing had caused rumours of future developments.
Not a viable option: The fence has been damaged by a fallen tree while many trees are also growing very close to the fence
During the session, Chor had also promised to work closely with Friends of Bukit Kiara (FoBK) and other NGOs to repair the damage done by the construction of the perimeter fencing.
Recently, StarMetro revisited Bukit Kiara and found the 3.5m-high fence along a 4.7km stretch was about 80% completed before the project was brought to a halt on July 31.
However, the fence had shown some damage caused by a fallen tree. Other unsightly views included large tree trunks blocking a water outlet and a tarpauline covering a slope with signs of soil erosion.
When contacted, FoBK chairman Liew Khooi Cheng said they have been pushing for JLN to remove the fence and the damage was proof that the fence was prone to damage and not a permanent solution to demarcate the park or deter illegal rubber tapping and settlers.
JLN will also have problems maintaining the fence. Some parts of the fence are erected on steep slopes which are prone to erosion due to soil loosen during construction work. New trees have started growing close to the fence.
How will JLN monitor and maintain the fence since the surrounding is unpredictable?” he questioned.
Liew said JLN had called for a meeting on Oct 19 to explain the need for the fence in the presence of organisations that have endorsed the project such as the police, Immigration Department, Land Office and Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL).
However, FoBK remained insistent that the fence needed to be removed as soon as possible for animal mobility and to preserve the forest in its most natural state.
Last week, FoBK sent a letter to JLN reaffirming its stand on the removal of the fence and proposed eco-related precautions.
We also objected to their proposal of clearing part of the park to accommodate 200 parking bays,” he said.
Meanwhile, Selangor Malaysia Nature Society chairman Henry Goh said the additional parking bays would not solve the parking problem permanently and that it was unnecessary to build it at the expense of some beautiful trails.
Park-goers will have to find parking space elsewhere.
The authorities should instead look at increasing enforcement and consistent monitoring in Bukit Kiara and its vicinity as a long-term solution to their problems.
There was no need to invest millions of Ringgit to secure the area only for it to be effective for a short period,” he said.
Goh added that JLN appointed contractors were currently installing gabion walls (retaining walls made of stone-filled cages tied together with wire) at certain areas as a precautionary measure to prevent erosion.
We appreciate JLN’s efforts to preserve Bukit Kiara but we are still anticipating the hill to be gazetted,” he concluded.
JLN could not be reached for comments.