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The open letter below is taken from TRAKS. Make the change people. Let it be heard.
Save Bukit Kiara: Letter To Najib Abd Razak, Prime Minister Of Malaysia By A Coalition Of Stakeholders
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TO: Y.A.B. Dato’ Seri Mohd Najib Abd Razak, Prime Minister of Malaysia, Putrajaya, 08 December 2012
Y.A.B. Prime Minister,
Re: Berjaya Corporation’s Development Proposal at Bukit Kiara
The Coalition of Residents’ Associations in in KL and Selangor including Friends of Bukit Kiara (FoBK), Taman Tun Dr Ismail Residents’ Association (TTDIRA),Bukit Damansara Residents’ Association and the other underlisted RAs, RT’s and NGO’s are disturbed to learn of the grand plans of Berjaya Corporation to develop and commercialize Bukit Kiara at its foothills. We cannot imagine a situation where nearby communities, walkers, joggers and nature lovers have to bear with the noise, pollution and clatter coming from four blocks of residences, international school, exhibition hall and stadium etc, located just next to the Bukit Kiara walking trail. Such a massive development would not be in the best interests of the community and would further erode what was all originally supposed to be a green lung.
At a meeting at City Hall on 11 Oct 2012 chaired by the Mayor of DBKL, we were informed that Berjaya Corporation had submitted a development proposal to City hall to build the following:
- an Eco-Hospital
- International School together with hostel facilities and swimming pool
- Huge Stadium
- Community Hall
- Exhibition Hall
- 4-storey building for commercial trading
- 4 Blocks of 4-storey residences and
- 1,000 car parks
Our Coalition is against any new development in Bukit Kiara. Our reasons why the Government should reject the development proposal of Berjaya Corporation are based on the following:
- Bukit Kiara is one of the few remaining green lungs in the heart of the city. It has been designated a protected forest reserve and therefore the Government should endeavour to protect and maintain this green lung for future generations by rejecting any move by private landowners to develop their land situated around BK. In addition, Bukit Kiara has been earmarked as a green lung in the KL Master Plan.
- If official ‘planning approval’ is given to Berjaya to develop the area, it will be difficult for DBKL not to approve planning proposals of other private land owners in the periphery of BK. There will be no turning back. Others will quickly jump on the bandwagon. In short it will open the floodgates for others to take the cue from the approval given to Berjaya to develop their land. It will be the beginning of the end of Bukit Kiara. Therefore the government must be firm in not approving any development plans from Berjaya or any other private owners.
- The construction of concrete structures just adjacent to a green lung is definitely out of place; the buildings will not be in harmony with the natural green environment of BK; it will be an eyesore.
- Green lungs need a buffer zone, especially those with indigenous wildlife and with a water source. Bukit Kiara is such a green lung and development should not encase it any further than what has already occurred.
- Once completed, the roar from the stadium especially during night games will disrupt the quietness of the area. The development will attract more traffic to the area resulting in congestion and more air pollution
Due to the limited green areas in the City and Selangor, the Coalition strongly opposes any form of development around Bukit Kiara (one of the few remaining green lungs in the heart of the city) – irrespective of whether it is privately owned or otherwise. The Coalition stands firm in taking a position that the whole of the 480 acres of Bukit Kiara, and the immediate buffer zone, should remain forever green for the benefit of our children and their children. The Coalition would like the peace, quiet and tranquillity in Bukit Kiara to be preserved. The public, especially joggers, walkers, cyclists and nature lovers would be ever so grateful.
We were informed by the Mayor of DBKL on that Cabinet has agreed to gazette 480 acres of land in Bukit Kiara (Taman Awam Berskala Besar) and we are indeed grateful for this kind act on the part of the government. As this is a national project, it is in the national interest that the gazetting process be expedited to make Bukit Kiara a permanent forest reserve.
Based on the above, we would urge you to use your good offices to direct City Hall not to approve the proposed development plan. At the same time, your office should impress upon Berjaya Corporation to display magnanimity and a caring attitude towards the environment, the users of the forest, and the Rakyat in general by not developing their land.”
Regarding the proposed lease to be signed between DBKL and Berjaya Corporation, we have no objection to the signing with the proviso that the land use stated in the letter of alienation (“private open space” - No removal of existing vegetation and trees shall be permitted) be maintained. To reiterate, we strongly object to changing the status of the said land from “private open space ” to ‘commercial ’ status. We want Bukit Kiara to remain a Green Lung forever for the ‘Rakyat’ in line with the watchword “Rakyat MestiDidahulukan” for the sake of our children and their children. We strongly object to changing the status of the land other than what it is today and also strongly object to any new development taking place in the vicinity of BK that will destroy the peace, quiet and harmony of the area.
The gazetting of the 480 acres of Bukit Kiara as a permanent forest reserve should be given top priority and this matter should be handled separate from the Berjaya development proposal.
Let’s also remember that the animals and natural habitat around Bukit Kiara need protection and the only way to achieve this is to leave Bukit Kiara as it is – meaning that no development should be approved.
We hope that our appeal to you will yield results in protecting and preserving Bukit Kiara so that it remains green forever without the need for any new development projects.
Yours Sincerely,
- LiewKhooi Cheng , Protem Chairman, Friends of Bukit Kiara
- Mohd Hatim Abdullah, Chairman, TTDI Residents Association
- Dr KalithasanKailasam, River Care Coordinator, Global Environment Centre
- Othman Bin Sulieman, General Manager, Landskap Malaysia
- Henry Goh, Vice President, Malaysian Nature Society (MNS)
- Scott C. Roberts, Trails Association of Kuala Lumpur and Selangor
- Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Abdul Rahman, Chairman of Bukit Damansara House Owners’ Association
- Ng KokPiew, Taman Bukit Maluri Kepong RA
- Jespal Sidhu, Sunway SPK Damansara
- P.Periasundram, Medan Damansara RA
- Gerald Lee, Sri Hartamas RA
- Mumtaz Ali, Bukit Bandaraya RA
- Amrit Pal Singh, Bangsar Baru RA
- Datuk Ahmad Nordeen Salleh, Lucky Garden RA
- Mohamed Shukri Mohamed Zain, Desa Sri Hartamas RA
- Dr. Rahim Sudin, Bandar Menjalara RA
- Gan Tee Jin, Bukit Tunku RA
- Lim See Meng, Bandar Utama RA
- Dato’ Abul Hasan Mohd Rashid, Chairman,Persatuan Penduduk Sungei Penchala
- Lee Seow Mei, Treasurer, City Tower Joint Management Body
- Dato’ Yew Cheng Hoe, Chairman, Damansara Jaya Residents and Owners Association
- Lim Theng Kau, Chairman, SS2 Selatan RA
- Tan Yew Leong, Chairman, Persatuan Penduduk Seksyen 19 P.Jaya
- Rajes Raghavji Patel, President, SS21 Damansara Utama Residents and Owners Association
- Jeffrey FKPhang, Chairman, Friends of Kota Damansara
- >Eileen Thong, Chairman, RT SS20 Damansara Utama
- Ding Heng Seong, Chairman, Rukun Tetangga Section 17 P.Jaya
- Josie M Fernandez, Sec Gen , Transparency International Malaysia
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