CITY Hall (DBKL) has changed the name of Taman Rimba Kiara (TRK) in Taman Tun Dr Ismail (TTDI) to Taman Awam Bukit Kiara (TABK). The reason given was to prevent city folk confusing TABK which is managed by DBKL, with the larger public park adjacent to it, which is under the management of the National Landscape Department.

A few years ago, Star Metro discovered that the final say on street names comes from the Federal Territories Committee on Geographical Names (JNNGWP), chaired by Federal Territories Ministry secretary-general, and the Federal Territories Kuala Lumpur Technical Committee on Geographical Names (JTNGWPKL), chaired by the mayor. Members of the latter committee include Pos Malaysia Bhd, the Real Estate and Housing Developers Association of Malaysia (Rehda) and the Kuala Lumpur traffic police.

There are are several procedures and filtering processes to follow. Several factors are taken into consideration before JTNGWPKL decides on a name to be presented to JNNGWP for the final approval. These include the history of the site in question, general theme, landmarks and community sensitivities.

For proposals to change road names, if DBKL anticipates objections, the stakeholders will be consulted.

If there is a procedure to follow to change road names, is there a procedure for the changing of the name of a popular taman?

I do not think so because there was no consultation. The change has caused an outcry from the Taman Tun Dr Ismail Residents’ Association. TRK is the site of a controversial high-rise development (over 2,200 units) on a 3.24-ha land (now known as TABK). The legality of the development order issued by DBKL is awaiting the judgement of the Court of Appeal.

This is not the first name change effected by DBKL. Remember Kampung Kerinchi? The name change was made in fast track without formal consultation with either the new Bangsar South residents or the old Kampung Kerinchi residents. It seems even DBKL’s senior officials disagreed over renaming the area Bangsar South when it was proposed back in 2012.

Later, eight roads were renamed after the eight Yang di-Pertuan Agongs. The reason given was that it was the wish of the Conference of Rulers (COR) which had felt that KL did not bear the names of the past kings. 

That, however, was disputed by the Keeper of the Rulers’ Seal, who stated that the matter was never discussed at any meeting of the COR. What actually happened was that a proposal paper was submitted by the Federal Territories Ministry (FTM) to be tabled at the 234th Meeting of the COR on February 27, 2014. The proposal paper was withdrawn by the ministry and was not submitted again for discussion by the COR.

Actually, it was done by the FTM after consultations with DBKL. Even the then deputy minister was not able to confirm if any public consultation process was undertaken by DBKL.

The question now is, is DBKL so powerful that it can use the name of COR with impunity and disregard its own procedures of consulting the JTNGWPKL and JNNGWP? 

By the way, three of the five principles of our Rukun Negara are loyalty to the king and country, supremacy of the rule of law, and courtesy and morality.

Can impunity be tolerated or justified?

I guess no one can answer unless there are valid reasons of national interests. 

* Saleh Mohammed reads The Malaysia Insight.

* This is the opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insight. Article may be edited for brevity and clarity.