RESIDENTS of Bukit Rahman Putra (BRP) took to a public field known as Padang Awam BRP in the housing development today in a last-ditch effort to stop the construction of an access road that threatens the area’s only green lung.
The protest, led by the "Save Padang BRP" group took place following years of ignored petitions and correspondence with the Selayang Municipal Council (MPS), local and state elected representatives, and even the Menteri Besar of Selangor.
“We just want the council to sit down with us to discuss other alternatives that won’t affect the park,” said Save Padang BRP member and media spokesperson Munis Muniandy, who has lived in the neighbourhood for over two decades.
The residents’ main concern is the destruction of approximately 80 mature trees to make way for a 40-foot-wide access road and 50-car parking lot behind SMK Bukit Rahman Putra, under a project labelled as an “upgrade” for the school.
“About 20% to 25% of the green area will be lost if the access road is created at the perimeter of the park,” Munis added. “The proposed road does not actually solve any real traffic congestion. It’s just a cost-cutting measure.”
Gazetted Green Space, Ignored Protests
The 3.25-hectare park — home to joggers, qigong practitioners, families, and weekend footballers — was officially gazetted as an open space and recreational site on 18 March 2021. Yet, plans for the road and accompanying school car park have persisted, sparking legal intervention.
The Save Padang BRP group had collected 537 signatures in 2019 objecting to the repurposing of the park. From November 2019 to August 2023, nine formal letters were sent to MPS, copied to the area MP, state assemblyman, and other relevant authorities — none of which received a reply.
In August 2023, the developer attempted multiple times to enter the park to begin felling trees. Red markings were discovered on the trunks, along with a new signboard for the road project — which residents say contains inaccurate lot numbers that do not correspond to Padang BRP.
Frustrated, residents appointed legal counsel in September 2023 and formed the registered society Persatuan Warga Mesra Bukit Rahman Putra (PWMBRP) to pursue judicial review proceedings.
On 23 October 2023, the High Court in Shah Alam granted a stay of works. A subsequent interim stay order was issued on 15 November 2023.
After nearly two years of hearings, the High Court ruled on 29 May 2025 in favour of the residents. The decision quashed MPS’s conditional approvals dated 26 July and 30/31 August 2023 for the tree-felling and roadworks.
Court Orders MPS to Preserve Park
The court issued a certiorari order nullifying the council’s permissions and a mandamus order compelling MPS to maintain and preserve Padang BRP specifically for recreational purposes, in line with its gazetted status under Selangor Gazette No. 511.
Despite this, residents fear renewed attempts to encroach on the park.
“The developer’s project site is located nearly 1km away. Why must the only park in the area suffer for the sake of access?” Munis asked.
He noted that alternatives exist — such as enhancing the existing service road adjacent to the school — which would avoid encroaching on the park altogether. “We believe the developer and council chose this alignment simply because it is cheaper.”
With a local population of 24,000 and more than 6,000 new residential units expected to be added, residents warn that the destruction of their last remaining open space would severely impact the area’s liveability, air quality, and community well-being.
The protest this Saturday aims to reaffirm public opposition and call for greater accountability in urban planning.
“This field is not just grass and trees,” said Munis. “It’s where our community gathers, where children play, and where we come to breathe.” - June 14, 2025
