Bukit Kiara lovers strive on

Activists and authorities are still at loggerheads over the future of the green sanctuary.

FMT FOCUS

KUALA LUMPUR: Adjacent to the affluent neighbourhood of Taman Tun Dr Ismail lies a green sanctuary that nature lovers have been struggling to keep intact against the authorities intention to turn it into a world class park.

Bukit Kiara, a secondary forest that covers 188.93 hectares of land, boasts a leafy woodland experience with tall trees shading jungle trails and small animals roaming free.

It is a favourite place for joggers, mountain bikers and others seeking relief from the noise and polluted air of the surrounding areas, but they are worried that ongoing efforts by the National Landscape Department (NLD) to turn it into a park might kill its pristine beauty forever.

Once a rubber estate, Bukit Kiara was acquired by the federal government in the 1980s to build public parks and a national mausoleum.

Since then, however, tracts have been given away for golf courses and an equestrian club.

On paper, the hill is divided into seven parcels, with Berjaya Corporation owning 25.1 hectares of it, Measat owning another parcel and the rest belonging to the NLD.

Berjaya wanted to develop its land into real estate, but the bid was blocked by Kuala Lumpur City Hall. At the same time, however, NLD has embarked on a series of efforts to upgrade the hill with built structures.

A perimeter fence 3.5m high and 4.7km long is being erected and is 80% complete. NLD has claimed that the purpose is to demarcate Bukit Kiara from neighbouring private lands.

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Bukit Kiara lovers strive on