KL gazettes 26 more green, open spaces

Jalan Datuk Sulaiman 3 playground in TTDI has recently been gazetted as a green and open space. — EZARD FAROUQ/The Star

TWENTY-SIX new green and open spaces have been officially gazetted across eight parliamentary constituencies in Kuala Lumpur, bringing the total in the city to 582.

Land and Mines Federal Terri­­tories director Datin Paduka Rahilah Rahmat said the new lots totalling 7.33ha were equivalent to 10 football fields.

Rahilah says task force has targeted 256 sites.

“The sites are located in Ban­dar Tun Razak (six lots), Segam­but (five), Seputeh (four), Cheras (four), Wangsa Maju (two), Lembah Pantai (two), Batu (two)and one lot in Setia­wangsa.

“Among the areas involved are Alam Damai, Taman Damai Jaya, Taman Connaught, Segambut Indah, Taman Tun Dr Ismail (TTDI), Sri Hartamas, Sri Kuching, Sri Bintang, Taman Shanghai, Bukit Jalil, Taman Esplanade, Taman Midah and Bukit Ria,” she said during a press conference at Jalan Datuk Sulaiman 3 playground in TTDI, one of the new 26 sites.

Rahilah also said that since Feb 5, a total of 88 lots were gazetted as green and open spaces.

“The task force set up for this purpose targeted 256 sites.

“We have completed 88,” she said, hoping to gazette the rest by this year.

All the sites are listed in the My­­Hijau portal at www.ptgwp.gov.my – the Federal Territories Land and Mines Office website.

Also present at the event were Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Federal Territories) Hannah Yeoh and Kuala Lumpur mayor Datuk Seri Fadlun Mak Ujud.

Yeoh emphasised the importance of gazetting parks as green and open spaces to protect them.

Yeoh: Crucial to gazette parks to protect them from development.

“If they are not gazetted, anyone can apply to build anything, such as food courts or commercial buildings, on these lands.

“We don’t want this to happen in our neighbourhoods.

“Through the task force led by Rahilah and with assistance of Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL), we are now listing down more parks to be gazetted quickly.

“Once these parks are officially gazetted, DBKL will allocate funds to upgrade them,” she said.

Of the 26 new parks gazetted, Fadlun said 11 had been upgra­ded while the remaining would be upgraded in phases next year.

“We have also established a template for 21 child-friendly parks in Kuala Lumpur.

“This is a new reform we want to implement next year to make sure all parks are user-friendly.”

He said there were plans to build another 32 parks in Kuala Lumpur next year.

“The development process will start this year so that construction works can start early next year,” said Fadlun.