PRISTINE green, flora and fauna in abundance, birds chirping and dragonflies hovering over crystal clear streams.
That is how long-time Petaling Jaya resident Andrea Pavee described the popular Bukit Gasing hiking trails some 10 to 15 years ago.
But regular hikers like Pavee have noticed changes in Bukit Gasing over the last few years.
“The clear stream I used to know is now muddy and you can hardly call it a stream.
“You don’t hear as many birds now, but I have noticed more monkeys and small animals like monitor lizards in the open, perhaps because their natural habitat is being disturbed,’ she said.
Yes, Bukit Gasing is no longer as pristine as it was.
Environmental groups attribute this to overdevelopment on its slopes that have contributed to displaced flora and fauna, landslips, silted waterways, etc.
For years, these groups have battled with the two local authorities that have jurisdiction here – the Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) and Kuala Lumpur City Council (DBKL) – to stop further encroachment and development on the hillside.
And the recent protest outside the MBPJ office is an indication they need to be vigilant to protect this green lung because Bukit Gasing continues to attract development plans from private parties.
These environmental activists are calling for an immediate end to development at Bukit Gasing to preserve the iconic hill.
Bungalows are being built on the hill and drone images shared on social media show extensive land clearing.
Heavy rainfall could lead to soil erosion and possible landslips.
The protest group presented a memorandum to the council to issue a stop-work order for all ongoing developments.
It also called on MBPJ to make public any approvals granted for development projects.
Additionally, the memorandum requests that an independent geological study be conducted to assess the hillside and its biodiversity.
It’s a curious thing for local authorities to continue to presume that the residents of Petaling Jaya and the greater Klang Valley are daft.
In fact, it borders on arrogance that MBPJ expected these development plans to proceed without protests.
And the subsequent defensive statement by the mayor in reaction to said protests was baffling.
Yes, this development is on private land, but the assertion that development plans had been approved and what happens on private land is no business of the city council appears to be a deflection.
MBPJ has a responsibility to its tax-paying residents to protect Bukit Gasing.
It is a mockery in a thriving democracy like ours to blame the fact that this is private land and development can take place on the fringes of a major green lung visited by thousands daily, if not hundreds of thousands monthly.
Interestingly, checks show that the plots earmarked for development in Bukit Gasing belonged to a government-linked investment company but were subsequently sold to individuals.
Across Petaling Jaya in the leafy neighbourhood of Taman Tun Dr Ismail (TTDI), a similar tactic was used to railroad development plans.
Land near Taman Tun’s version of Bukit Gasing, Taman Rimba Kiara, originally alienated to Yayasan Wilayah Persekutuan (which had the mayor of Kuala Lumpur on its board of trustees), was subsequently sold to be part of a massive private development project.
TTDI residents initiated the Save Taman Rimba Kiara campaign in 2016 after seeing a notice about plans by the developer.
Just like MBPJ has done, DBKL at that point argued that this green space was private land and they could not stop development.
This led to a prolonged legal suit as the residents took the local authority and the developer to court.
With the 2023 Federal Court ruling that DBKL had acted unlawfully to carve up Taman Rimba Kiara for the proposed development project, residents of TTDI won their long fight to keep the park intact.
A precedent has been set by the Federal Court in the TTDI case.
It was a huge victory for the Residents Association there and should inspire other RAs, NGOs and communities everywhere.
The decision set significant legal precedents for urban development in Malaysia, prompting questions on the covert actions undertaken by the authorities.
Bukit Gasing has seen its fair share of acrimony over unfettered development over the years.
At one point, residents there formed the Joint Action Committee of Bukit Gasing and filed for a judicial review to compel DBKL to hold a public hearing on the proposed development located on the KL side of the hill. But that was in 2008.
For now though, let us hope that saner heads prevail.
Because the last thing we need is another long-drawn-out case.
It benefits no one, not the residents, the hikers, the local authority or even the landowners.
It is incumbent on MBPJ to work hand in hand with the community for the common good, to ensure that green lungs are protected and developments are not railroaded.
Brian Martin
Brian Martin is the managing editor of The Star.
