No to Condominium at Taman Rimba Kiara @ TTDI

'Sayangi Kuala Lumpur' they say. Those words are right there at their official portal and yet signs of demolition are erected at the city's very own gazetted green lung. Taman Rimba Kiara in Taman Tun Dr Ismail has been serving the people for years as a sanctuary where all walks of life come to jog, jungle trek, cycle and enjoy other recreational activities. Recently, there has been announcements that the park has to make way for condominium development. 

Save Taman Rimba Kiara

Taman Rimba Kiara was zoned as an 'Open Space' area over 15 years ago and is Cabinet-approved Taman Awam Berskala Besar Bukit Kiara (TABB) for the public. Taman Rimba Kiara is designated as a green lung but somehow the developer has approval in principle from DBKL (subject to public hearing) to build not only residential but commercial lots that will raise the existing population ratio of 60 persons per acre to 979 persons per acre! Even if the project was to provide homes, are these condominiums affordable? What about the more needy community who are still living in makeshift long houses just adjacent to the park?

The faces of those who care at the Taman Rimba Kiara protest on Sunday 26th June 2016

I personally love parks. As a nature person, I take them as treasures inherited from Mother Earth. Parks are where I head to to shed weight and to rejuvenate from the tiresome weekday grind. Taman Rimba Kiara is one of my weekend destinations since I was in primary school. Nature reminds me that there is still sincerity in life. Plants earnestly play their role providing shade, food, oxygen and soothing landscapes throughout their existence. Then come humans with their bulldozers. 

If we do not care, who will?

Our neighbour, Singapore, may be deficient in land but it was not difficult to come accross parks and green patches. What are the lengths that human will go for profit? To those who think that trees and grass are just a waste of space, you will be defeated by your ignorance. If we do not preserve the already scarce nature that is left, where will our children play in the future? Are we lobbying for the extinction of picnic? Are condominiums what is left to be shown to our grandchildren in Kuala Lumpur?

Public park for rakyat

The people's protest on Sunday 26th June 2016 at Taman Rimba Kiara itself gave me the opportunity to meet many like-minded people. By witnessing how they are willing to take time off their precious Sunday to join the movement, I felt that there is still hope. Some came even from Nilai to strengthen the people's voice.  

Placards made by protesters

Of course I encountered a few individuals whose schedule or sleep matters more than the future of the park. One said that development is inevitable and the protest will fall on deaf ears. Another said that there was fear of getting arrested during the rally. Well, I really could not decide if these were self-coaxing excuses or the result of suppression in the country.

I find this very true

All I know is that it will be a little too late to complain about the lack of trees to sit under when I retire later if I do not do something now. I chose to do my part, reaching the park at 11am and contributing to the headcount of the protest. At least I stood up for my beliefs and can be proud to tell my children that I once fought for their inheritance.

This is how 'Saya Sayangi Kuala Lumpur'

One hour of my Sunday sums up to nothing if the park survives for my children to learn cycling and to have walks with me. When was the last time you fought for something you strongly believed in?

Those who would like to join the petition can sign online via the link below:

http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/bantahan-pembangunan-taman-rimba-kiara

My share of protest

Protesters gathering at Taman Rimba Kiara

People signing the petition to stop development of condominium

Notice at the park

Cannot imagine all these greeneries gone

The serene road to Taman Rimba Kiara

Trees providing shade and cool air

Where will our children go picnic if this park is gone?

Trees that existed for a long time

Large plots of grass

Where will our children play when this is gone?

Appreciating the beauty of nature

Showing the real meaning of 'Sayangi Kuala Lumpur'

Send all your objections to:

DBKL: 

Pengarah, Jabatan Perancangan Bandaraya, Tingkat 7-10 Menara DBKL 1, Jalan Raja Laut, 50350 Kuala Lumpur

TTDI Residents Association: 

Dewan Pusat Komuniti TTDI, Jalan Athinahapan, Taman Tun Dr Ismail 60000 Kuala Lumpur

Local MP:

Mr. Lim Lip Eng 

dapsegambut@gmail.com

Encik Suzaini bin Ahmad,

Ketua Penolong Pengarah,

Bahagian Pembangunan Tanah,

Pejabat Tahan dan Galian WPKL

suzaini@ptgwp.gov.my

Plants I Adopted from AirAsia's Green24 Movement

I am seeing green lately. So much so that I am growing sprouts right from my head! My favourite airlines, AirAsia, held its #Green24 community event on the 29th and 30th January 2016 offering opportunities to be educated, to recycle and of course to bring home free plants!

Shoots are growing from my head

The event was held at APW @ Bangsar, previously a printing plant which has been transformed into an eclectic event space with an industrial concept.

Air Asia's #Green24 movement

Participating partners like the Tzu Chi Foundation disseminated its worthy cause to create awareness about charity through recycling. Their genuine intention is testified though their efforts in producing products for the needy via unwanted items like plastic bottles and carton boxes. Useless mineral water bottles are incarnated into warm blankets for the poor and many more. Click here for more info on the Tzu Chi Foundation.

Tzu Chi Foundation segregating wastes for recycle

Did you know blankets can be made out of recycled PET bottles?

It is interesting how environmental friendly we can get if we wanted to. If we gave it a thought, there is an organic cure for everything. Organic pesticides for example, are made of vinegar and fruit peels. Smells great and yet organic. The campaign managed to knock some resolution in me to try to use less synthetic materials and resort to natural solutions.

Organic pesticides from vinegar

The Free Tree Society was also there to lobby the interest of planting trees among the crowd. Green is always a relaxing and soothing colour to look at. For me, it really does lower the angst and stress. I have always been a fan of greenies other than having them on my dinner plate. Click here for more info on the Free Tree Society.

Free plants from Free Tree Society

In the end, I decided to adopt these two darling saplings- a coleus plant which produces beautiful coloured leaves and a vegetable plant to learn the meaning of reap what you sow.
We brought them home and potted them instantly. It is quite different when you actually own the plant, watch them grow from a sapling and care for them like your own offspring. Some say that if you talk to your plants, they will thrive even more!

How to plant a tree

Plants do so much for us quietly. They remind us to be more organic and just takes us away from the concrete jungle for just a little while. We sow hopes for these two saplings to add a fresh breath of life in our hectic rut. These humble organisms are facing competition with modern development. It is time to appreciate them again.

Finally, chose these 2 babies

I can't wait for the coleus to prosper into a charismatic adornment in our home and the Brazilian spinach to be appreciated as part of a delicious meal by family and friends. Stay tuned to see how well they are doing!

Our coleus (left) and Brazilian spinach (right)

All across Malaysia, all AirAsia offices conducted activities such as beach, park and hill cleanups as well as recycling drives to further promote good environmental habits among staff and the public. Thai AirAsia staff held a community beach cleanup while offices in Myanmar, Vietnam and Cambodia held educational programs about recycling.

For the full list of #GREEN24 activities throughout the region, visit www.airasia.com/green24 or follow the #GREEN24 on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram