Regular joggers around Tasik Perdana in Kuala Lumpur have reported unusual activities between the lake and Persiaran Mahameru on the East and West respectively.

The northern boundary appears to be the middle of the larger of the two islands while its southern boundary is the middle of the lake. Trees have been tagged and strings have been used to cordon off the area. Joggers have seen what appeared to be preparation for construction work.

Nobody is saying anything and the project seems to be another one of those 'official secrets' so common in Malaysia when developers have something to hide - perhaps in fear of a public outcry against what has been planned and will soon become a reality at this site of approximately 120,000 sq m.

Do we need the destruction of countless trees to make way for another building in another city park? Have we not learned from the destruction of beautiful Taman Tunku Abdul Rahman which has been reduced to a giant storage yard for used motor vehicles?

Despite the silence surrounding this proposed development, we have learned that it is a joint

venture between Albukhary Foundation and Dewan Bandaraya Kuala Lumpur. This is the same DBKL whose vision it is to turn Kuala Lumpur into a world-class city, a Garden City of Lights.

Once again, we the nation's citizens and city dwellers are helpless to stop this powerful developer who has the total support of the federal government and local authorities in its act to destroy the environment in the name of development.