Rainforest in the city

Khazanah Nasional Bhd managing director Tan Sri Azman Mokhtar (second from right) taking questions from the public during the first public engagement session on the Taman Tugu Project. — Khazanah

Upon its completion, Kuala Lumpur will have a huge rainforest park.

ON Sept 4, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak announced the creation of Taman Tugu, a 26.7ha rainforest park for the public.

News of the multi-million ringgit park, to be located behind the Tugu Negara National Monument, made waves.

Khazanah Nasional Berhad has embarked on a public engagement programme to get feedback and input from various communities.

“To date, we have conducted over 30 open dialogues, discussions with special interest groups such as environmental NGOs, architect and landscape associations, running and cycling communities, tourism councils, educational institutions, government ministries as well as with Members of Parliament,” said Khazanah executive director and head of managing director’s office Jiv Sammanathan.

He said they gave them more information on the project and its four components – namely the park, connectors, learning and innovation centre.

“We also held ‘Rakyat Touch Points’ which are engagement booths set up at various shopping malls and LRT stations to ensure we were able to reach out further to the general public,” he said in an email interview.

StarMetro has reported Khazanah saying that construction is expected to begin in the first quarter of 2017 and the projected is targeted for completion by 2019.

About 75% of the total Taman Tugu project cost of RM650mil had been allocated almost equally in three parts while RM100mil will be for operations and maintenance.

The estimated breakdown is as follows – conserving and activating the park (RM180mil), setting up a learning and innovation centre (RM180mil), operations and maintenance (RM100mil) and connecting the surrounding area with connectors (RM180mil).

A blueprint of Taman Tugu. — Khazanah

The connectors include the construction of a one-kilometre sheltered walkway from Bank Negara KTM Komuter station to the Taman Tugu main entrance (which is opposite Lanai Kijang).

There will also be a 100m underpass from the southern end of Taman Tugu to Taman Botani Perdana.

Jiv said that, in conjunction with the public engagement programme, surveys were conducted at all engagement sessions, at the Rakyat Touch Points as well as online via tamantugu.com.my.

“The survey which ran from September to November 2016 garnered more than 2,000 responses and feedback has been very encouraging,” he said.

Jiv said input obtained via the survey will help determine types of activities, choices of food and beverage as well as general amenities expected by the public.

“Whilst there were some questions raised on the overall budget and necessity for the project, we believe the engagement programmes and information provided via our website and the media have enabled the public and special interest groups to get a more in-depth and comprehensive understanding of the project in its entirety,” he said.

“We will continue to engage and collaborate with the general public, civil society, private sector and various stakeholders in delivering this project,” he said.

As for the park component, Jiv said they have submitted all documents including an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) to DBKL and other relevant authorities for the necessary approvals.

“We are also in the midst of finalising the tender documents which will be announced soon after the relevant approvals are obtained,” he said.

For the connectors, he said the submission for the development order will only take place once the architecture competition has been concluded and the relevant technical drawings were drafted.