KUALA LUMPUR – The plants and landscape in Kebun-Kebun Bangsar will not be destroyed despite the eviction notice issued to the community garden’s operator, said the Federal Territories Land and Mines Office director Datuk Muhammad Yasir Yahya.
In a statement, Yasir said “hardscape” and “softscape” components at the site in Taman Bukit Pantai would be maintained and preserved.
“However, the building (of) permanent structures, the rearing of livestock, and planting (of) permanent trees would not be allowed on the site in line with conditions set by the temporary occupancy licence (TOL),” Yasir said.
Yasir said this in response to his agency issuing a final eviction notice to the operator of the Kebun-Kebun Bangsar community garden yesterday, which has sparked public outcry.
Yesterday, the agency issued its final eviction notice to the famed Kebun-Kebun Bangsar community garden, citing alleged violation of its TOL.
Yasir said although the government supported such community activities, the operators of Kebun-Kebun Bangsar had failed to comply with conditions set under the TOL.
Furthermore, Yasir had highlighted the grouses of residents in the vicinity who lodged verbal and written complaints about nuisances caused by farm animals being reared at the garden-turned-farm and within a residential zone.
The director, responding to posts about the eviction on social media, said the agency was forced to take action against Kebun-Kebun Bangsar as the TOL was meant for the operation of a nursery.
Today, Yasir said city hall (DBKL) will be holding a discussion with Kuala Lumpur’s community garden operators soon to ensure the latter complied with rules and regulations related to the activity.
The director said this was to ensure that the activity conducted on government land had met its targeted objectives while following the conditions set by the government.
Yasir also noted that the operator of Kebun-Kebun Bangsar had been repeatedly told to remove the farm animals – including chickens, ducks, and cows – from the site, but had ignored the instructions.
He noted that DBKL will be holding the talks with the operators as it was the coordinator of all community garden projects in the city.
“Any recreational activities that involved widescale programmes are also not allowed to be carried out at the said site as it involved safety aspects outlined by Tenaga Nasional Bhd,” Yasir said.
“The Lands and Mines Department always supports any efforts to preserve urban gardens in the Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur, and encourage the existence of community gardens as a community activity, although they must comply with the conditions outlined.” – The Vibes, June 29, 2022
