COMMENT | Until the Federal Highway became operational in the 70s, the trunk road from Kuala Lumpur to Klang meandered through a maze of plantations –rubber and later oil palm trees.

The area where the Guinness Brewery is situated was known as Sungai Way Tin and down the road was Seafield Estate, now known as Subang Jaya – the first township off the highway.

Over the years, the trees on either side of the highway were hacked down, hillocks were cut and the ground was levelled – all in the name of development.

Today, except for a few trees that act as ornaments, the entire area has become a concrete jungle with townships replacing the plantations.

How and why did this happen?

When the Federal government deemed it fit to make U-turns and somersaults on policies on cutting hillsides, it was then accepted as a solution to the acute housing shortage in the Klang Valley.

When the state government converted estates and plantations and re-zoned the land use from agriculture to residential, it appeared to be a good source of revenue.