Townhall discussion on proposed landscape office turns heated

Free Malaysia Today

2 days ago

Segambut MP Hannah Yeoh (in pink baju kurung) with national landscape department deputy director-general Ahmad Syaharuddin Kamaruddin at the townhall yesterday evening.
KUALA LUMPUR : A townhall to discuss the proposed construction of a national landscape department office, which would see a section of a forest cleared in Bukit Kiara, turned heated yesterday after residents said their concerns were being ignored.
Some of the residents had expressed fear that the clearing of the forest would result in landslides, noting that three landslides had already occurred in the area.
The slope where the proposed office would be located has been cut.
Meanwhile, residents staying along Jalan Abang Haji Openg in Taman Tun Dr Ismail feared the loss of more greenery.
The residents became irate at one of the speakers, a representative from Jaaz Architects Sdn Bhd, whom they perceived as being dismissive of their concerns.
A shouting match erupted when the representative, who was presenting the building plans, responded to a question by a resident on the need for a parking lot at the department's proposed office.
The resident suggested that the new office be public transport-friendly, to which he replied: 'You're living in an ideal world. Why don't we stop people from using cars, then we don't need car parks.'
Another resident then accused the architect of being condescending.
A second exchange occurred when a resident questioned the environmental impact of the development, and what carbon offset measures were in place.
The representative said the proposed development would only take up a small area of the forest reserve, and that the residents still had the rest of the reserve.
This led to a chorus of 'no's' from the residents.
Segambut MP Hannah Yeoh then intervened and asked the national landscape department how many trees would be felled.
The department's deputy director-general Ahmad Syaharuddin Kamaruddin said about 300 trees would be chopped down, but that 85% of these trees were rubber trees, which were an 'invasive species'.
He said the department would replant about 600 trees.
Some of the residents had no issue with the department's plan to build an office, saying one was needed in Bukit Kiara which is also a popular hiking spot.
They said there was a need to 'look at the bigger picture' and advised detractors against getting too emotional.
Syaharuddin earlier said that the department needed an office in Bukit Kiara to better serve the needs of residents around the area in a timely manner.
He said there was a need for regular track maintenance for hikers, the removal of fallen trees, and research on the flora and fauna in the forest reserve.
'Right now, we need to travel all the way from Putrajaya to Taman Tun Dr Ismail (to do maintenance work). It is not practical,' he added.