Activities Report Jan 2000 Newsletter
Bukit Gasing - an important Green Lung for the city
Bukit Gasing is an important city landmark
and recreation area which is very popular and widely used by the peoples
of Kuala Lumpur and Petaling Jaya. It also serves as an important green
lung amidst the concrete jungle of the city; providing clean air and helping
to reduce the temperature. Currently, it is partly under the jurisdiction
of Kuala Lumpur City Hall and partly under the Petaling Jaya Municipal
Council.
Regrettably, Bukit Gasing has suffered
often from illegal land clearance and squatters. While the Petaling
Jaya Municipal Council has taken action on their side of the hill, the
threat to the Kuala Lumpur side remains and again illegal tree felling
was reported just recently.
In view of this, we welcome the commitment
made by Datuk Bandar Tan SrI Kamaruzzaman Shariff that no development would
be carried out on the Kuala Lumpur side of the hill. This statement
clearly recognizes the importance of the hill as a green lung and recreation
area and the value placed on it by the citizens.
However, to prevent further encroachment
and illegal tree clearing, more needs to be done. The Malaysian Nature
Society supports the suggestion that the Kuala Lumpur side of the hill
be gazzetted as a recreational forest reserve and strongly urges City Hall
to consider this option. Furthermore, trails and interpretive materials
should be provided. In this way, Bukit Gasing's role may not only be preserved
but enhanced for the benefit of all.
Dato’ Dr Salleh Mohd Nor Kuala Lumpur,
9 November 1999
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Created on 15th Jan 2000