The large field at PPR Pekan Kepong in Kuala Lumpur currently only has a playground and futsal court. — Photos: SHAARI CHEMAT/The Star
Pekan Kepong People’s Housing Project (PPR) residents in Kuala Lumpur are hoping that a large field next to the flats’ Block A can be transformed into a recreational area with facilities.
In 2019, they had asked Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) to upgrade the field and instal a jogging track but nothing has been done so far.
Community activist Yee Poh Ping hopes that DBKL will respond to the residents’ appeal and look into plans to enhance the space.
“The government encourages people to lead a healthy lifestyle but without proper facilities, it is difficult for residents to do so.
“Many of the senior citizens here want to exercise and engage with their community, but are not able to do that because of the lack of communal facilities,” he said.
A visit by StarMetro found that the field had a small playground and a futsal court but lacked a paved walkway.
The large field had ample space for upgrades and facilities.
Resident Siew Ah Lan, 73, expressed a desire to see improvements to the flats as it would also enhance the lives of people living there.
“I’ve lived here for 13 years and that field has been empty all this while.
“Senior citizens here like spending time together, but the most we can do is go downstairs and sit there to chat,” she said, showing a common area where residents had placed plastic chairs.
“If we had a jogging track, we would be able to walk and make more use of our time outdoors.
“Now, if we want to be actively mobile, the only place for us to walk is on the roads,” said Siew.
Yee said previously, residents would walk to Kepong Metropolitan Park, which was about 3km away, but as age started to catch up, many found it difficult to walk such a distance.
He added that as the field had been vacant for years, DBKL should consider building apartments there alongside better facilities.
“DBKL should make full use of the land and consider plans for more apartments with a green concept.
“Besides helping to relocate poorer communities, the apartments can also be constructed with resident’s well-being in mind, surrounded by a jogging track and a carpark,” said Yee.
The large field at PPR Pekan Kepong in Kuala Lumpur currently only has a playground and futsal court. — Photos: SHAARI CHEMAT/The Star
Yee (third from left) with some of the PPR Pekan Kepong residents who are requesting that DBKL make better use of the field behind Block A of the flats.
