THE Federal Territory Lands and Mines Department has given Kebun-Kebun Bangsar (KKB) in Kuala Lumpur a temporary occupancy license (TOL) to operate after previously threatening to shut down the urban farm. 

Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) in a statement said that the land office had informed the Federal Territory Land Working Committee that it has approved the TOL on June 28 for the purpose of nursery and farm. 

The urban farm is located on Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) reserve land between Jalan Cenderai and Lorong Bukit Pantai 4, Taman Bukit Pantai. 

DBKL also said their one stop centre committee meeting has agreed for KKB to be coordinated as a LA21KL partner.

This was agreed today at a meeting chaired by DBKL’s planning director, KKB stakeholders, representatives of residents’ associations, TNB and land office.”

“Based on the meeting, KKB was informed of the decision issued by DBKL that the farm is now classified under the LA21KL programme as a LA21KL urban neighbourhood farm.

“KKB activities will be monitored by DBKL and related agencies from from time to time.”

LA21 is a voluntary process of local community consultation with the aim to create local policies and programmes that work towards achieving sustainable development.

Last month, the land office had taken action against the farm by giving them an eviction notice for violating the terms of its permission for nurseries. 

Land office director Muhammad Yasir Yahya said the terms included violations against the type of crops planted and permanent structures built under electrical pylons, based on technical feedback from TNB.

DBKL added that KKB which has been operating since October 2016 is a good example of gardening using TNB’s reserve land and should be emulated if carried out in accordance with the rules and regulations set.

“Various activities made it a successful model garden visited by various local and foreign delegations.”

“The garden has received a lot of support from the media and the public for conducting agricultural education activities for visitors who come to the garden due to the variety of its crops and herbs.

“The garden has also received various grants from Khazanah Nasional and ThinkCity as a good “placemaking” initiative.” – July 14, 2022.