What was once a beautiful children’s playground in Taman Rekreasi Ayer Panas in Setapak, is now down to just the padding.
A COALITION of Kuala Lumpur residential groups is pushing for more transparency over the sale of the 10.1ha land that is part of Taman Rekreasi Ayer Panas in Setapak, Kuala Lumpur, to a private company.
The Kuala Lumpur Residents Associations+ (KLRAs+), a coalition of 55 residents associations, want to know how a public park land ended up being sold to a developer.
In a statement to StarMetro, the group said the land sale was contradictory to the current Kuala Lumpur Structure Plan 2020 (KLSP2020).
“The KLSP2020 policy No.133 CF3 states: ‘Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) shall ensure that all government land is used for government or public facility purposes.’
“The land should remain a green area for public use. The Federal Territories of Kuala Lumpur Land and Mines Office (PTGWP) and DBKL are obligated to strictly adhere to the KLSP that is currently in force,” said KLRAs+.
KLRAs+ was responding to a report in StarMetro on Aug 21 titled “Setapak loses green lung”.
The land was part of Lot 29780 and had belonged to the government before the sale. It was a popular public park among the community.
DBKL’s office building at the park has been abandoned since January.
“Green areas and public land in the city have become very limited, and we cannot afford to lose any more of these lands.
“The authorities, especially DBKL, are tasked with taking care of the well-being of Kuala Lumpur citizens.
“They are expected to at least follow the rules and regulations to manage the city well.
“This case again shows the structural issues surrounding the process of sale/lease of land owned by PTGWP,” KLRAs+ said.
Flashback of StarMetro’s front page on Aug 21, 2023.
The coalition said that any application to buy or lease public land must undergo public consultation to allow the people’s concerns to be addressed and objections to be heard.
“KLRAs+ would like to request that the relevant provisions of the National Land Code be amended to be consistent with the policy related to public land as stipulated in the respective gazetted structural plans.
“In the case of Kuala Lumpur, the KLSP2020 and pending such amendment to the law, clear guidelines must be established to ensure the public is consulted and engaged with for full transparency and accountability, and for DBKL to strictly adhere to the currently in-force KLSP on any approvals pertaining to public land,” the group said.
