This poll by DBKL on the popularity of recreational parks in the city was taken down at about 3.30pm yesterday.
A POLL calling for the public to pick their most visited recreational park on Kuala Lumpur City Hall’s (DBKL) website was taken down at about 3.30pm yesterday.
The poll asked the public to choose between five recreational parks in the city – Taman Botani Perdana, Taman Tasik Titiwangsa, Taman Rimba Kiara, Taman Metropolitan Kepong and Taman Tasik Permaisuri – or others.
It opened on Monday and had over 8,000 respondents at about 3pm, with Taman Bukit Kiara leading the table with 93% votes.
It is believed that majority of the respondents were supporters of Taman Rimba Kiara, which is threatened with a proposed housing development that would take up part of the park.
DBKL corporate communications director Khalid Zakaria said the news started on social media, stating that if Taman Rimba Kiara did not do well, it may be used as an excuse to go ahead with the proposed development.
Khalid explained that it was merely a poll to collect feedback from city folk.
“We always conduct online surveys to collect feedback on our services and facilities. The data would then be used to improve our services and facilities.
“It does not have anything to do with the development,” he said, adding that the poll was taken down and would be put up again soon.
However, the poll was not up at press time. Instead, a new poll asking netizens to state which DBKL online service city folk preferred.
Taman Tun Dr Ismail Residents Association chairman Abdul Hafiz Bakar said when the residents found out about the survey, they were united in showing their support for Taman Rimba Kiara.
“Polls are conducted for a reason. We want the park to remain as it is and we had hoped the results would influence DBKL’s decision on the project.
“Now that the poll has been taken down, it makes me question the reason it was put up in the first place,” he said.
The park stakeholders have been protesting against the development since the news of the project got out last year. There are plans to build eight blocks of 42- to 54-storey high-end serviced apartments, while another 29-storey block comprising 350 units of affordable housing will be allocated to the TTDI longhouse residents.
The development also includes the construction of a six-lane highway and a flyover to accommodate the massive growth in population density from 74 to 979 people per acre.
The supporters are only for the building of the affordable public housing and not for the luxury apartments and condominiums that will take up part of the park.
