Residents living in close proximity to Kebun-Kebun Bangsar, Kuala Lumpur, say the din and odour caused by the livestock are affecting them.
THE recent debacle involving Kebun-Kebun Bangsar (KKB) in Kuala Lumpur may have been resolved after the Federal Territories Land and Mines Office (PPTGWP) issued a two-year temporary occupation licence (TOL) to the urban farm.
However, residents in the vicinity are hoping that issues pertaining to the noise and smell from animals like cows and goats will be resolved too as the terms ban any livestock on the land.
KKB is a 1.01ha community vegetable garden started by a group of volunteers in 2016 with the intention of feeding the underprivileged.
The farm is located on Tenaga Nasional Bhd’s reserve land between Jalan Cenderai and Lorong Bukit Pantai 4 in Taman Bukit Pantai, Bangsar.
Resident Hisham Mohamed, whose house is adjacent to the urban farm, said the animals should be moved elsewhere.
“If those behind KKB still insist on keeping the animals, the land office should cancel the TOL immediately.
“As a resident, I have the right to live in a peaceful environment free from the noise caused by bleating goats and smell of cow dung,” he said.
On June 23, the farm was ordered to shut down following complaints of odour pollution, flies and noise from its livestock.
Hisham says as a resident, he has the right to live in a peaceful environment.
However, it was given the green light during a meeting with stakeholders on July 14 and placed under Kuala Lumpur City Hall’s Local Agenda 21 (LA21), which is an initiative to create community gardens in city neighbourhoods.
Hisham’s neighbour, David Cheah, said his mother who passed away recently, was affected by the noise and smell from the farm for years.
“My family has lived here for 50 years and my dad used to plant fruit trees on land currently occupied by the farm.
“One day, people in authority came and told us that planting trees under TNB lines was not advisable and told my dad to cut everything down.
“So it is ironic that today you can have animals here.
“I am not against animals. In fact, I think it is a great idea to have an urban farm with animals, but this is not the place for it,” he said.
Another resident, who wanted to be known only as Nor Ain and whose kitchen faces KKB, said: “I have no issues with the kebun (garden). It is a noble effort but apart from the cows and chickens that dirty my backyard, the area behind my house is overgrown with vegetation and there are snakes and monitor lizards,” she said.
Resident Datuk M. Ali said when the farm started, he had advised the operator to go door to door to get written consent from immediate neighbours if he wanted to keep animals on the farm.
“KKB started off with no livestock. But then the chickens came and later ducks and a cow.
“There was even a peacock recently. The situation has really gotten out of hand.
“This is an urban township and is not suitable for the rearing of animals.
“Those living in close proximity to Kebun-Kebun Bangsar have rights too,” said Ali.
When contacted, a Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) officer involved in monitoring urban farming said LA21 had clear do’s and don’ts.
“Under LA21, our partners have to get permission from the land owner and must comply with the rules and regulations pertaining to land use.
“It is very clear that the terms and conditions do not allow any animals on the land, neither can permanent structures be built.
“The plants are supposed to be temporary, even banana trees are not allowed,” he said.
He added that the licence could be cancelled immediately if the terms of the agreement were not adhered to under provisions in the National Land Code 1965.
