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