Fence to prevent trespass

Source: http://www.nst.com.my/streets/central/fence-to-prevent-trespass-1.367196# (By DAWN CHAN | streets@nst.com.my 3/10/2013)
BACK TO WORK: National Landscape Department has resumed work to complete some 20 per cent of the remaining 20 per cent of the structure

KUALA LUMPUR: A YEAR after the construction of a metal fence at the Bukit Kiara park came to a halt last August, the National Landscape Department has resumed work to complete  remaining 20 per cent of the  structure. Last year, the then Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Seri Chor Chee Heung issued a stop-work order following protests by non-governmental organisations that the fencing work is affecting the environment. The department's technical and special project unit director Nurshikhah Daud, in an email to Streets recently, said the remaining work was allowed after Cabinet approval.

"The fence is to prevent trespass and illegal settlement at the park. Work resumed in August and is expected to be completed by year's end," she said.

On work on the hanging bridge, Nurshikhah said the project has been included in the upgrading of the family zone of the park and that work has commenced.

The issue of the metal fence was also raised in Parliament recently by Segambut MP Lim Lip Eng who questioned its necessity.

Urban Wellbeing, Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Abdul Rahman Dahlan gave six reasons for it in a written reply. Rahman said the fence stands at four metres high. The six reasons are to ease security control of visitors by enforcement agencies, to curb illegal settlement, to control and prevent trespassers and illegal rubber tapping, to control boundary trespassing by the neighbouring land owners, to ease the process of land gazettement according to lot boundaries and surveyor plans, and to ease the government's effort to implement development and make the park a world-class arboretum. It also includes the conservation and preservation of the environment and the Sungai Penchala water source.

Rahman also said the ministry, through the department, had hosted talks last August and October for the public and eight enforcement agencies, namely the Malaysian Rubber Board, police, City Hall, Immigration Department, Drainage and Irrigation Department, Public Works Department, the Land and Mines Department and the Department of Wildlife and National Parks (Perhilitan).

The agencies had agreed that the construction of the fence be continued because work at the 188.9ha park does not hinder visitors from enjoying their daily recreational activities. It also makes the park much safer and organised. The department, with the cooperation with Perhilitan, has also created passageways for the wildlife there.

Rahman said that in June 2007, the Federal Government had decided to create a large public park to cater to the recreation needs of city dwellers.

Last Saturday, more than 2,000 people participated in the Walk to Save Bukit Kiara, organised by Friends of Bukit Kiara (FoBK), in protest against the National Landscape Department's decision to resume work on the fence.