Carpark project on green space opposed

The recreational space along Jalan Intan 2 where the carpark project is coming up. — Photos: IZZRAFIQ ALIAS/The Star

RESIDENTS are against a move by Subang Jaya City Council (MBSJ) to turn a 0.28ha public park in Taman Puchong Intan, Selangor, into an open-air carpark with 107 bays.

“It is absurd that MBSJ is cutting down some 30 mature trees and using a green space to build a carpark,” said resident Wong Wai Yein.

“Senior citizens and children will be deprived of a green space, which is so important for their well-being,” he said after expressing his objection through a signature campaign.

Bordering the recreational park in Jalan Intan 2 of Taman Puchong Intan Phase One is Apartment Puchong Intan with 10 floors and the Sri Naga Nageswari Alayam Hindu temple.

Across the public park are 378 single-storey terrace houses, 240 units of walk-up shophouses and Surau An-Nur.

On the park grounds are swings and slides for children.

A council worker cutting down a Yellow Flame tree in the park on April 6.

Wong said that by proceeding with this project, MBSJ was contradicting the UN-Habitat Scroll of Honour it had received.

In October 2020, MBSJ was awarded the UN-Habitat Scroll of Honour in acknowledgement of its holistic and integrated approach to sustainable urbanisation.

Supervisor James Chen, who was met at the site, displayed the layout plan.

Environmental engineer Suliman Sa’ari, 45, who visits the park on weekends, said the tree canopies helped keep the surrounding residential and commercial areas cool.

“MBSJ’s act of cutting down trees to remove this public park is destructive in nature.

“A park helps in reducing carbon dioxide that drives climate change and causes heatwaves,” he said.

Suliman added that the park was important as Damansara-Puchong Highway and the Puchong Barat toll plaza were a few hundred metres from the green lung which helped to filter harmful carbon emissions from traffic.

Religious school teacher Khadijah Esah Muji, 35, said the public park should be retained.

“Residents heard the sound of a chainsaw and the loud crashing of a tree last week. It made our hearts sink.

“Huge trees offer shade. MBSJ must stop the wanton destruction of a public space,” said Khadijah, who has a five-year-old autistic child.

She said the park gave parents with special needs children a natural environment that was important to their well-being.

“People’s views have not been sought and this is worrying.

“It erodes public confidence in the authorities and elected representatives,” she added.

Save Jalan Intan 2 Recreational Park Pro-tem Committee chief S. Deva Varman said the majority of Taman Puchong Intan Phase One residents were against the construction of the carpark on the recreational site.

“On March 30, a two-decade-old Yellow Flame tree (pelthophorum pterocarpum) in full bloom was felled.

“Residents protested against this and it was stopped.

“But then on April 6, another tree was felled,” he said.

Deva, a sound engineer said protests against the project was mounting with residents supporting an ongoing house-to-house signature campaign.

“Our neighbourhood has sufficient parking spots.

“We do not need this project as it will do more harm than good.

“At the public park, we have 11 Yellow Flame trees as well as eight Mahogany, five coconut and two apple mango trees that also serve as a habitat for birds,” Deva said as he hugged a tree in an act of protest.

“MBSJ must not develop this green space.

“During a downpour, rainwater will have nowhere to go except into drains, which could lead to flash floods.

“It is crucial to maintain this field in its natural state,” he stressed.

MBSJ councillor Mohd Fitri Jamaludin, 37, who is in charge of Zone 13 which covers Taman Puchong Intan, Taman Puchong Indah and Taman Puchong Perdana, said he had ordered the workers to stop felling the trees and remove all chainsaws.

“I will raise the issue with MBSJ this week,” he said.

MBSJ Corporate and Strategic Management Department deputy director Azfarizal Abdul Rashid confirmed that approval had been given for the construction of 107 public parking bays at the park.

“Out of the total land area of 0.28ha, part of the park will be taken for the carpark that will cater to Apartment Puchong Intan residents.

“The balance 0.1ha will be left as a recreational space,” he said, adding that approval for the project was given on Jan 26.