Unity flourishing at the green oasis

Uncle Yen embodies the multicultural and multiracial spirit that makes this country what it is in his urban orchard

THE Urban Orchard Kuala Lumpur (UOKL) is an accidental green oasis not many are aware of. But it is one that should be protected at all costs.

Spanning roughly one hectare or one kilometre from end to end, UOKL lies on the banks of Sungai Penchala, which bisects the Bukit Kiara Muslim cemetery and condominiums and a shopping mall adjacent to the Taman Tun MRT Station.

To be specific, UOKL sits on reserve land belonging to the Drainage and Irrigation Department (DID). Eight years ago, this was a swampy, mosquito-infested area; its transformation into a veritable green paradise is the result of one man’s dedication and determination.

Yen Maseri Idris, 67, lost his son under tragic circumstances in London eight years ago.

After the burial took place at the Bukit Kiara Cemetery, he was overcome with grief and started walking along Jalan Damansara. As he looked down, he saw the untended land and the river below the surface of the road.The retired recruitment company owner decided to embark on a project that would consume almost all his spare time but provide him with an outlet to find solace and purpose while coping with his grief.

First of all, he sought permission from the DID to work on the land and when that was given, he was all set to work. This transformation did not happen overnight. But through sheer hard work and persistence, UOKL was born.

Affectionately known as Uncle Yen now, this “guardian of the greens” vision extends beyond the orchard, inspiring a movement that seeks to foster a more harmonious coexistence between humanity and the environment.

As the space was transformed, an active volunteer movement was born. Malaysians from all walks of life, from all races and creeds, young and old, started to volunteer to help tend the orchard.“I created a UOKL Instagram account and things took off from there. We have volunteers almost every day.

“There was an 80-year-old lady who insisted on accompanying her niece to the orchard,” Yen said.

Getting to UOKL is tricky if you’re a first timer, as I found out when I volunteered last Saturday. I was told to meet Uncle Yen at Pintu A of the MRT station at 8.30am sharp. Saturday’s volunteer group was then taken to a small entrance along Jalan Damansara near the Muslim cemetery where you are guided below the surface of the road.

The first thing that greets you is a pack of UOKL’s furry guardians – four rescue dogs that guard the orchard from intruders.

Green ­fingers: Yen ­showing off his urban orchard in Kuala Lumpur.

Yen refers to these intruders as “jala people”.

“They are foreign workers who live nearby. They use nets to catch tilapia in the river. The fish are important to the overall ecosystem of the orchard and the depleting tilapia will eventually damage the ecosystem beyond repair,” he said.

UOKL currently has around 250 trees of 25 different varieties of vegetables and fruits. These include longan, durian, avocado, rambutan, pandan, lime, pomelo, tomato, African berry, Brazilian grape, mango, jackfruit, lychee and banana.

The orchard is self-funded. Volunteers clean and upkeep the orchard and help to harvest fruits. The produce is then distributed to the volunteers themselves or sold in the marketplace. Funds obtained from the sale of the produce are used for the upkeep of the orchard.

“We are a self-sustaining urban orchard without any assistance from the authorities. Everything you see here has been built by myself and volunteers,” Yen told me, referring to a small brick hut and a series of 8m-deep wells.The wells collect rainwater, which is then used to water the entire orchard via a 1km-long pipeline.

When I visited, I saw fruit plants everywhere. Harum Manis mangoes – Yen claims that they are as good as the original Perlis variety – would be ready for picking in two weeks’ time while we harvested lime and ambarella. The orchard is remarkably productive, considering that neither Yen nor any of his helpers had formal horticulture training.

“We learnt along the way and also from the Internet,” he said with a laugh, adding that his pet project currently is growing vanilla vine, which he calls a cash crop. The creeper plant is strategically planted along the walls on UOKL’s embankment.

Yen lives in Desa Sri Hartamas with his family but he is at UOKL from 8.30am every morning and returns home in the evening. The brick hut in UOKL, built with his own hands, serves as his abode.

The hidden green lung’s multi-racial volunteers come from all walks of life but this National Day, Yen is taking a larger than usual group around the orchard.

“I want to educate Malaysians that just like me, they too can find healing and happiness in connecting with nature,” he said.

If you would like to connect with Uncle Yen and his diverse group of volunteers, check them out on Instagram with the handle @urbanorchardkl.