My weekends are always a joy when I meet up with my friends to use the trails at Bukit Kiara, whether it is riding on my mountain bike or doing trail work to build and maintain the trails. Some of the trails that you see in Bkt Kiara now started off as trails for rubber tappers, but some had the vision of building trails so walkers, runners and bikers could enjoy them.

Most of the trails that still exist today were literally handcrafted by trail builders a.k.a. the public using ‘cangkuls’ and small tools to ensure sustainability and to minimise the effect on the forest.

Unfortunately, the past weeks have been a heartbreaker for many who love and help maintain these trails. Kuala Lumpur has sent a small army of heavy machinery to build what is known as endurance horse trails.

Many have written to the media to protest this and DBKL, in a reply said that endurance horse riding was growing in popularity and the 'suitability' of Bkt Kiara for this sports would enable more members of the public to enjoy this sport.

My points are:

1. Although they mentioned that some of the horse trails have already existed for 15 years, most of th trails they are widening are not horse trails but the trials we hikers, runners and cyclists have built. Most of the old horse trails of 15 years and before have degenerated because Bkt Kiara is not suitable in terms of soil conditions and the terrain.

2. The number of trail-users per day during the weekend are in the hundreds. How many horse- riders are there on the weekends?

3. DBKL should have mapped out other new horse trails through proper planning so as to not rob other trail users and also to prevent contact between hikers, runners, cyclists and horses. There is the problem of horse droppings and the possibility of frightened horses injuring other trail-users and the riders themselves.

4. DBKL says allegations they are destroying the forest, closing waterways and causing erosion are not true. According to them, only a few trees have been chopped to give way for the new horse trails. Does DBKL think the public and trail-users are blind?