(Left) Taman Persekutuan Bukit Kiara is not open yet as of Dec 3.
Stakeholders were assured that Taman Persekutuan Bukit Kiara in Kuala Lumpur would reopen by Nov 30 but as of today, the park remains closed.
Yet, as we move past the promised date, a glance from outside the park does not inspire confidence.
The site looks far from ready. By now, contractors should be putting the final touches, grass should have been planted and pathways completed.
After all, it is a park and we expect to see greenery, not bare soil.
Work does not appear to be progressing with urgency.
A banner at the park states that the completion date for Bukit Kiara park is Nov 30.
Most troubling of all, there is no communication.
No updates. No explanation. Just silence.
On June 19 last year, the National Landscape Department (JLN) held an engagement session with park users and stakeholders to explain the closure of the park for upgrading works.
Segambut MP Hannah Yeoh was present at the session.
For many, the park is not merely a recreational space. It is a sanctuary and a lifeline.
It is a place where health, happiness and community converge.
These green spaces are vital arteries of urban life, offering refuge from stress, promoting physical activity and nurturing mental well-being.
Studies have shown that access to green spaces reduces the risk of chronic illness, improves mental health and even extends life expectancy.
The benefits ripple outward – environmentally, economically and socially.
Trees in parks absorb carbon dioxide, release oxygen and provide habitats for flora and fauna.
They are essential to climate resilience and community harmony.
So why the silence from JLN if the reopening of Taman Persekutuan Bukit Kiara is to be postponed?
Why are park users – who have waited patiently and in good faith – kept in the dark?
Why is there no public update, or no revised timeline, if a delay is indeed expected? We ask for accountability.
Each day of delay chips away at the health and morale of users, especially the elderly who rely on regular exercise to maintain their well-being.
I, too, feel the loss keenly.
I value green spaces not just for their beauty, but for the life they breathe into our communities.
We deserve to know: When will the park reopen?
This is not just about a park; it is about trust.
It is about the right of the people to enjoy public spaces that nourish their bodies and minds.
It is about the duty of public institutions to communicate openly and act responsibly.
We urge JLN to break the silence and speak to the community to show that promises made are promises kept.
And even if the park reopens soon, it will not resemble the vibrant green haven we remember because grass takes time to grow.
This reality should have been factored in from the outset.
Pola Singh
Friends of Bukit Kiara
