GAZETTEMENT of Kuala Lumpur’s green and open spaces must take precedence before authorities can take action against improper land use, says the Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Federal Territories).
Minister Hannah Yeoh (pic) said the government must first ensure these areas were legally protected before addressing encroachment and unauthorised commercial activities.
“It is a chicken-and-egg situation and we have to prioritise.
“That is the reason I established the Special Task Force on the Gazettement of Open and Green Spaces.
“We still have many sites that have yet to be gazetted.
“When these spaces are not gazetted, activities can take place there,” she said.
Yeoh was responding to a StarMetro report published on July 7, highlighting several of Kuala Lumpur’s gazetted green and open spaces which were being used for commercial purposes, including restaurants, carparks and car showrooms.
She said gazettement was the first step in a broader effort to safeguard public open spaces, followed by enforcement, with the affected parties be given notice before action taken.
While acknowledging that the issue had persisted for years, she said it could not be resolved overnight despite the task force’s progress in recent months.
“It has only been six months since the task force was established, and more than 400 parks have been gazetted,” she said.
She added that the authorities had been working closely with civil society groups.
Since February, information on gazetted green and open spaces can be accessed via the MyHijau portal, managed by the Federal Territories Lands and Mines Office (PTGWP).
The public can check the location, size and gazettement status of green and open spaces throughout Kuala Lumpur.
As of May 7, more than 540 sites have been listed as gazetted green and open spaces.
Yeoh was speaking to reporters after announcing a RM45mil project to upgrade the crematorium complex in Jalan Kuari, Cheras, yesterday.
The project involves the building of three new cremation units, increasing the total to 10.
Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) said construction was expected to begin next February and completed within two years.
