A view of the new remote control car track at Laman Rekreasi Tasek Tambahan in Ampang. — Photos: CHAN TAK KONG and BERNAMA
IT WAS heartening to see the lively atmosphere at Laman Rekreasi Tasek Tambahan in Ampang on a weekend with people taking advantage of the good weather to be out and about with their families.
The spacious park, located on the outskirts of Kuala Lumpur, is also an ideal spot for residents to interact.
Mastura Abdul Mansor, a religious school teacher who resides in a nearby housing area, told Bernama she would take her two children to the park regularly.
Even at 6am, it is already full of people of all races and ages who go there to exercise.
Both young and old now have more motivation to visit the park.
The park has been attracting more people ever since Ampang Jaya Municipal Council (MPAJ) made improvements and provided more facilities like a walkway, outdoor gym equipment and a track for remote control cars.
The park is located in a densely populated area with over 50,000 people living in the vicinity.
Iris Najwa Irwan, a private sector employee who was met while jogging at the park, said those who cannot afford to go to a gym can work out for free at Laman Rekreasi Tasek Tambahan.
“Of course, the equipment here is limited compared to a gym but they help add to the variety of activities we can do here to improve our fitness and quality of life.
“I do hope residents here will take good care of the park’s facilities,” she said.
Laman Rekreasi Tasek Tambahan is one of three locations identified by the Local Government Development Ministry for its Healthy City pilot project.
It is under the Agenda Nasional Malaysia Sihat (ANMS), which is part of the government’s efforts to enhance sustainability and retain green spaces in urban areas.
The two other locations for the Healthy City pilot project are Jerantut in Pahang and Taman Tasik Putra in Kulim, Kedah.
The government has allocated RM1.5mil for the entire pilot project.
Work on upgrading the Laman Rekreasi Tasek Tambahan’s facilities started on Oct 8, 2021 and was scheduled to have been completed on Jan 7 last year but was delayed due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The improved facilities have definitely made the area more liveable and are being well-utilised by residents in surrounding neighbourhoods.
Children enjoying themselves at the upgraded playground.
MPAJ’s role
MPAJ president Dr Ani Ahmad said the upgrading of the park was based on the Healthy City design guidelines.
It encompassed pedestrian and bicycle pathways, lighting and support services such as signboards providing information on health as well as structures such as gazebos and benches.
Ani: Overgrown bushes and grass have been cleared and the lighting improved, making the area safer.
In a written reply to questions posed by Bernama, she said the upgrading was in line with one of the core thrusts of ANMS, namely creating an environment that is supportive of a healthy lifestyle.
“Some of the elements that have been given priority in the implementation of this Healthy City project (in Laman Rekreasi Tasek Tambahan) are the provision of an outdoor gym and making improvements to the remote control car track and children’s playground.
“All these upgrading works have indirectly met the needs of the residents of our municipality,” she said.
The improvements have not only allowed the local community to lead a healthier lifestyle but also helped improve users’ confidence in visiting the park.
“Overgrown bushes and grass (in the park) have been cleared and the lighting has been improved, making the area safer,” Ani said.
She added that public perception of the park’s safety had gone up thanks to the Healthy City project.
“The project’s positive impact on the local community has resulted in the park being used as a benchmark for other areas as well.”
She added MPAJ was carrying out various activities to improve awareness of the importance of practising a healthy lifestyle.
These include conducting campaigns on health, safety, cleanliness and energy savings as well as programmes on the development of green technology in an effort to turn Ampang Jaya into a low carbon and sustainable town.
“For example, we have already started making an inventory of trees in the Ampang area, aimed at educating people here on the diversity of tree species.
“We are also organising tree-planting programmes in an effort to preserve and conserve Ampang’s shade trees,” she explained.
The outdoor equipment is a boon for those who want to keep fit for free at Laman Rekreasi Tasek Tambahan.
Bigger agenda
The positive impact of the Healthy City project on those residing near Laman Rekreasi Tasek Tambahan is ample proof that the government’s sustainable urban policy can be implemented successfully in populous areas, said an expert.
Universiti Putra Malaysia Design and Architecture Faculty dean Assoc Prof Dr Suhardi Maulan said the project was among the government’s initiatives to create sustainable cities and improve the well-being of people residing in densely populated areas.
The United Nations Centre for Human Settlements defines a sustainable city as one “where achievements in social, economic and physical development are made to last.”
US-based non-profit organisation Research Triangle Institute International defines it as a “metropolitan region that can compete successfully at the global level while still retaining the uniqueness of its culture and environment.”
“The Healthy City project allows cities to remain sustainable in terms of environmental, social and economic sustainability,” said Suhardi.
“Such cities are capable of providing the proper conditions for the preservation and conservation of the environment, social interactions and development of community activities.
“These efforts are also consistent with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).”
The Local Government Development Ministry is committed to ensuring the realisation of the government’s objective to improve the well-being of urban communities by providing them with social spaces that can enhance the liveability of their residential areas.
The creation of resilient and liveable cities as well as the preservation and conservation of urban biodiversity are among the initiatives being undertaken by the government to enable Malaysia to meet the SDGs by 2030.
Its Minister Nga Kor Ming was recently quoted as saying that his ministry was focusing on seven key areas that will effectively accelerate the localisation of SDGs.
These include enhancing the nation’s smart and sustainable cities agenda, developing and empowering local government, strengthening municipal finance, developing a comprehensive housing plan, empowering communities, managing the nation’s solid waste effectively and efficiently towards circular economy and strengthening the readiness of firefighters.
A child absorbed in navigating a remote control vehicle on the track.
Promoting leisure
Urban planning services company Urban Scale Studio Sdn Bhd director Mohammad Fahmi Alias said if the Healthy City project is implemented widely in urban areas, it can serve as one of the indicators for the low-carbon cities checklist that is often used in development plans in Malaysia.
The project can also serve as one of the parameters for the preservation of greenery in urban areas, he said, pointing to Vienna, Austria, which provides ample public spaces with green landscaping within the city.
“This (Healthy City project) will also ensure green spaces are not merely conserved but can also be turned into an area where the public can take part in leisure activities without the need for any permanent structure to be built there,” he added.
PLANMalaysia director-general Dr Alias Rameli said the Healthy City project was part of efforts to empower individuals and the community to practise a healthy way of living as well as maintain the cleanliness of their environment.
PLANMalaysia, formerly known as the Town and Country Planning Department, is tasked with the responsibility of overseeing the Healthy City project under ANMS.
Alias said the choice of locations for the pilot project was based on their Urban Sustainability Index, which is measured through the Malaysian Urban and Rural Sustainable Development (MURNInets) network, location potential and the local authority’s commitment towards the implementation.
“It is hoped that the creation of healthy cities will support the nation’s green development and sustainable cities agenda as well as improve the people’s physical and mental health levels,” Alias added.
