PARKS, green lungs and heritage landmarks are once again at the centre of residents’ efforts to guide Kuala Lumpur’s future, as stakeholders revive proposals excluded from the gazetted Kuala Lumpur Local Plan 2040 (KLLP2040).
The renewed push follows Kuala Lumpur mayor Datuk Seri Fadlun Mak Ujud’s announcement on June 15 that the public, landowners and developers could submit applications to amend the plan.
Those seeking changes must submit a Letter of Intent (LOI) with supporting documents to Kuala Lumpur City Hall’s (DBKL) City Planning Department by 5pm on July 10.
Successful applicants must then engage a registered town planner to draw up a detailed report outlining the proposed amendments.
Happy Garden and Continental Park Residents Association (HGCPRA), in Jalan Kelang Lama, is once again seeking to rezone 17 former sewage treatment plant and utility sites into public parks, while calling for 10 more sites to be earmarked for recreational use.
HGCPRA secretary Evelyne Low said preserving the 27 plots would strengthen the area’s green infrastructure, help mitigate urban heat and provide much-needed recreational spaces in a mature neighbourhood where land for new parks was limited.
“We pushed for this last year, but it was not included in KLLP2040,” said Low.
“We are hoping DBKL will consider rezoning the land this time.
“Once public land is lost to development, it is often difficult and expensive to recover.
“Safeguarding these sites now is one of the best ways to ensure future generations continue to have access to green spaces,” she emphasised.
Save Vivekananda Ashram Brickfields Group (SVAB) is taking advantage of the amendment exercise to revive its decade-long effort to protect the iconic 125-year-old building.
SVAB, formed in 2014 to oppose a proposed 23-storey condominium on the heritage site, sought to have the surrounding land rezoned from commercial use to public facilities.
The proposal, backed by 850 members of the public, was not accepted when KLLP2040 was gazetted on May 28, 2025.
SVAB chairman S. Raja Singham said the group would submit a fresh LOI before the deadline.
“Now that the review process is open, we are hopeful that the community’s concerns will be given due consideration this time,” he said.
The Save Kuala Lumpur coalition (SKL) is taking a broader view, with chairman Datuk M. Ali saying the review should place greater emphasis on protecting gazetted green lungs, retention ponds and remaining open spaces, especially in mature areas such as Bangsar.
“Gazetted green lungs must be preserved,” he said.
“We also need to take a fresh look at retention ponds and open spaces because once they disappear, there is no getting them back,” he added.
Meanwhile, Ali also questioned whether the timeline would give residents enough time to participate, since successful applicants were required to engage a registered town planner to prepare a formal amendment proposal.
“Opening KLLP2040 for public input is commendable, but meaningful participation cannot take place if the process is not accessible to ordinary folk.
“City planning affects everyone, but not everyone can afford planners and consultants.
“A retired couple in Bangsar, a working mother in Cheras or a residents’ association run by volunteers should not be expected to navigate a technical process within a matter of weeks.
“Public participation should not become a privilege reserved for those with money and expertise,” said Ali.
KLLP2040 is the statutory blueprint governing land use, development intensity and planning controls in Kuala Lumpur.
It came into force on June 11, 2025.
