IT ALL started in 2014 when DBKL carved out 12 acres of the 25-acre Taman Rimba Kiara, called it PT9244 and transferred it to Yayasan Wilayah Persekutuan (YWP).

Since 2017, three Federal Territory (FT) ministers have promised Taman Tun Dr Ismail (TTDI) residents that the area will be preserved as a public park.

PT9244 is currently the subject of a lawsuit before the Court of Appeal. In June 2016, DBKL issued a development order (DO) for a proposed development of eight blocks of 42-54 levels of luxury serviced apartments and a 29-storey block of affordable houses.

There were no proper public engagements before the issuance of the DO.

A few months ago, DBKL published a draft Kuala Lumpur Structure Plan 2040 (KLSP) that classified more than two-thirds of Taman Rimba Kiara as an “existing development (built-up)” area and not a park area with population densities up to 400 people per acre.

This is actually beyond the size of PT9244 and one of the aims of KLSP2040 is for KL to be a carbon-neutral city by 2050.

Isn’t this misrepresentation? Blame can be accorded to the consultants who prepared the draft but did anyone from the ministry or DBKL peruse it?

At the end of July 2020 two things happened.

First, DBKL changed the name from Taman Rimba Kiara to Taman Awam Bukit Kiara purportedly to avoid confusion between the latter and the larger public park adjacent to it.

TTDI residents alleged it appears to be an attempt to change the status quo and remove the word ‘Rimba’ because of the huge attention due to the lawsuit.

The FT ministry said it was a mistaken move by a DBKL officer and DBKL would review the name. The question is why announce it when it is still not officially agreed and can an officer jump the gun?

Then, Taman Rimba Kiara was encroached upon by workers erecting six-foot high poles across the football field and other areas despite statements from the ministry, DBKL and YWP to the contrary.

However, the ministry disputed this, saying the work was outside the disputed area but, irrespective, the result is the football field is now unplayable.

A couple of days ago, a road sign, which has stood for years at the entrance to the park, was removed.

Is it another mistake from an officer or could it be one step closer to erasing Taman Rimba Kiara and its legacy from the map?

The ministry did say that recreation in big cities need not take place in open spaces as many developers have provided indoor and elevated facilities.

I hope the current minister will bring this up in parliament for a debate to get feedback, especially from the Ministry of Youth and Sports, Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development and others.

By the way, recently a local council expert has called on Putrajaya to review the need for an FT ministry, saying it is redundant and an inefficient use of taxpayers’ funds as it overlaps the local authorities’ roles and functions.

The fact that this ministry can override and instruct the KL mayor, interferes with the mayor’s ability to carry out his functions properly.

Other local councils have councilors who make decisions by majority vote to ensure power is not concentrated in one person’s hands. In short, no one person should have too much power.

There is also a need for better public participation in the decision-making process and access to information is generally lacking.

“How did the Holocaust happen” maybe the ultimate enigma of modern history but why DBKL and the ministry did the above maybe the ultimate mystery for Malaysians and specifically residents of TTDI.

What say you…?

* Saleh Mohammed reads The Malaysian 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.