Bukit Kiara fences making it difficult, say riders

KUALA LUMPUR: Bukit Kiara is a precious green lung in the middle of the city where thousands go to immerse themselves in nature.

But over the years, this nature retreat has been plowed over by heavy machinery in the process of constructing high fences around the perimeter of Bukit Kiara.

“It is extremely heartbreaking to see destruction,” said equestrian and frequent visitor to Bukit Kiara Genevieve West.

“They must have chopped down thousands of trees in the process, and these trees are a food source and home to wildlife,” said the 50-year-old.

On top of the clearing of trees, the fencing has also cut off a number of trails for horse riders.

We have lost quite a few of our trails, it means that we now have less of a choice on where to go,” said West, who has been going up to Bukit Kiara with her horse for four years.

Lisa Ingram, another equestrian, said that horse riders have lost close to 70% of their tracks up to Bukit Kiara.

(from left) Equestrians Lisa Ingram, Lisa Stoddart, and Genevieve West share their grievances about the development in Bukit Kiara

“We used to be able to take our horses right to the top of the hill, but we can’t do that anymore, it is inaccessible because of the fencing,” said the 48-year-old.

“It is now a lot shorter because our riding track got cut off and we need to turn around.

“We used to be able to ride for an hour and a half, but now we ride for about 20 minutes. Whenever you come to a corner there's a fence now,” said Ingram.

“We would love to talk to Jabatan Landskap Negara (JLN) about putting more access gates so that we can get through to more trails,” she added.

“The heavy machinery being driven through the handmade tracks have made some of the trails very muddy, making it dangerous for horse riders, cyclists and other visitors,” said fellow equestrian Lisa Stoddart.

“The shrubs that used to be there would help with the drainage, but now it has just become really thick and sloppy mud,” said the 48-year-old.

Genevieve West with her horse Roadi.

Equestrian Tan Say Biow said that over the 10 years he has been riding up to Bukit Kiara, he has slowly seen the wildlife decline.

“I don’t see a lot of wildlife anymore. I used to see a lot of monitor lizards, for example, but you're seeing less and less animals, except for the monkeys,” said 60-year-old Tan.

The four equestrians recall seeing snakes, tortoises, and monitor lizards being trapped by the fence during their rides.

“They (the wildlife) can’t get past the fence. I did read that the fence was supposed to be wildlife friendly, but I don’t think it can be because they have buried it (the fence) in cement,” said West.

Not only has the fencing cut off a few trails, but the access gates will now be closing at specific times.

“I’ve been told that it will start happening this month. The gates will open from 7am to 11am, and close from 11am to 3pm, reopens and closes again at 7pm,” said West.

“Nobody explained to us why they are closing the gates during the day. Why 11am to 3pm? It doesn’t make sense,” said Ingram.

A picture from NGO Traks showing a snake unable to go through the fencing along Bukit Kiara.

Ingram said that people are also weary about being trapped behind the gate when it closes.

“What if we’re caught at the wrong side of the gate and there’s nobody to call for help? There’s no number that we know of which we can call,” she said.

Tan feels that the authorities did not think through the idea of building the fence properly.

“We don’t understand why the fence was built. It doesn’t seem logical,” said Tan.

“The fence is supposed to keep illegals and rubber tappers from going in, but we see more of them in there now. So it doesn't seem to be working,” he said.

Tan said that the fence is also not well maintained.

“There are trees falling down, causing parts of the fence to be crushed,” he said, adding the fence is a huge restriction to visitors.

Despite the Government agreeing to gazette Bukit Kiara in 2006, the land has still been undergoing development.

But Tan says that “what is done, is done” and that groups should work towards the further development of Bukit Kiara.

“I really hope that Bukit Kiara will be gazetted and that it will all be finalised and completed before it is all destroyed,” said West.

“It is such an amazing facility and it’s such an amazing thing to have in the middle of the city.

“Not many cities can boast having forests for its residents to have fun and enjoy and for wildlife to enjoy,” she said.