Well-maintained pathways in Bukit Kiara. Photo by Pathma Naban
NESTLED in a former rubber estate along Jalan Changkat Abang Haii Openg in Taman Tun Dr Ismail, Kuala Lumpur, is a green lung that is a magnet for joggers, walkers, hikers and bikers.
For exercise enthusiasts and those yearning for some tranquillity, it provides an ideal respite from daily traffic snarls in the city.
Kiara Hill Walk is a challenging exercise park in Bukit Kiara, an affluent suburb of Kuala Lumpur.
This area is one of the larger green spaces in the city, a rarity these days in Kuala Lumpur.
There are some roads and trails popular with mountain bikers as well as walking and hiking trails.
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).
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“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).
A bird’s eye view of Kuala Lumpur Butterfly Park, which is covered by green netting. Photos: FAIHAN GHANI, SAMUEL ONG and YAP CHEE HONG/The Star
IF KUALA Lumpur does not take immediate measures to conserve its butterfly population, it will most likely end up like Singapore which “lost” almost half of its butterflies.
“We will go down the same road if we do not take good mitigation measures (to conserve), ” said Associate Prof Dr Norela Sulaiman from the Biological and Biotechnology Department of the Faculty of Science and Technology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia.
The entomologist said Malaysia’s butterfly population was declining and if conservation efforts were not done soon, it would lose more species.