“Green” KL to balance concrete forest 31 Jan 2021 / 14:01 H.
KUALA LUMPUR: More recreational areas and public parks will be set up to provide more “green” to the concrete forest in the federal capital, which is now inhabited by 1.9 million people.
Federal Territories Minister Tan Sri Annuar Musa (
pix) said this is one of the ministry’s aspirations towards providing a better quality of life and more comfortable living for city dwellers, apart from ensuring balanced development and a sustainable environment.
The move, he said, would involve upgrading and beautification of seven abandoned lakes in the north of the city under the 2020-2040 Kuala Lumpur Structure Plan (PSKL), which is expected to be launched in the middle of this year.
2:03 PM MYT
KUALA LUMPUR: The decision to keep public parks open in Kuala Lumpur was approved by the National Security Council (NSC), says Tan Sri Annuar Musa.
The Federal Territories Minister said the matter was discussed by the Federal Territories Crisis Management Centre - of which Annuar is chairman - before it was presented and subsequently approved by the NSC.
“Some have said that this was a flip-flop decision, but it was made based on feedback from the people and even from several Kuala Lumpur MPs. As it is for the betterment of the public, it is OK.
“We should listen to their voices, and if reasonable, we can find ways to implement them. We are not perfect, but we do not have to be so rigid, ” he said during a live-stream Sunday (Jan 17). Annuar said Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) was instructed to increase monitoring at popular parks such as Taman Rimba Kiara, Taman Botani Perdana and Taman Metropolitan Kepong.
A girl riding her bicycle along the lake at Taman Metropolitan Kepong. - Filepic
KUALA LUMPUR: All public parks and playgrounds under the jurisdiction of Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) will be closed starting Wednesday (Jan 13) until further notice.
A DBKL statement said the closure was in view of the movement control order announced by the government.
Some of the parks that will be closed include Taman Rimba Kiara, Taman Botani Perdana and Taman Metropolitan Kepong.
The closure comes despite some flexibility given for leisure activities including jogging and cycling as announced by Senior Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob Ismail on Tuesday (Jan 12).
(pic).
“The standard operating procedure is not clear and we do not want to rush into matters. I will be attending a meeting at the Selangor State Secretariat about 5pm to iron out matters such as this, ” he said.
Mohd Sayuthi said that there was an announcement that the public could still go jogging and we are assuming it would be at the neighbourhood parks.
“However the details on where the public could jog or cycle is not clear. Of course, we intend to close parks and hiking spots such as Bukit Gasing but we want to be certain about the procedures first, ” he said.
KUALA LUMPUR: A group of Kuala Lumpur MPs is urging Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) to reconsider the closure of its public parks and playgrounds.
The MPs said that DBKL s decision was not in line with the recent announcement by Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin that isolation for a long period of time can affect mental health. To avoid this, the public is allowed to leave the house for exercise but only with members of their household. For KL residents, public parks are the most suitable, controlled and safe location to carry out recreational activities in accordance with all standard operating procedures (SOP) of the National Security Council (NSC).