More than 20 residents, community groups and non-governmental organisations in Petaling Jaya and Kuala Lumpur have signed a protest letter demanding that Federal Territories Minister Mohd Isa Abdul Samad retracts his statement about allowing hillside development in Kuala Lumpur.

He had reportedly said hillside development may be allowed in KL due to scarcity of land after he had officiated at an environmental seminar on June 16.

Shocked and appalled by this, the individuals and groups decided to collectively send a letter to Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi objecting to the idea of opening up 39ha of Bukit Gasing for development.

The letter, with a copy to KL Mayor Ruslin Hassan, will be sent within the next few days.

The move will kick-start a national campaign supported by the signatories including the Malaysian Nature Society (MNS), WWF Malaysia, Sahabat Alam Malaysia, residents associations (RAs) and Rukun Tetangga (RTs).

The Selangor portion of Bukit Gasing - measuring 37.3ha - has been gazetted and incorporated into the structure and local plans and a similar process was underway for 289 ha on the KL side until Mohd Isa's statement.

Quick action sought

Resident and lawyer Derek Fernandez said the Selangor government, RAs/RTs and some schools have sent supporting letters to KL City Hall for Bukit Gasing to be gazetted as a forest reserve.

"I'm disgusted with Mohd Isa's statement. He signed the KL Structure Plan 2020 incorporating the preservation of Bukit Gasing and assured people there were no plans to develop it, but is singing a different tune now," the planning law expert told a press conference today in Kuala Lumpur.

"The campaign will include a website to survey how many people want Bukit Gasing preserved as a green lung and the results will be tabulated for Pak Lah to get a feel of the grassroots view."

The residents groups also plan to meet with Ruslin who has yet to comment on Mohd Isa's statement.

"We want the mayor to state the present stand and to fulfil the pledge made by his predecessor. We will also work through our respective members of Parliament and state assemblypersons. It's important to reverse the 'policy' before the first tree is cut," said Fernandez.

Mohd Isa and Ruslin could not be reached for comment today.

To comply with its own planning guidelines, City Hall must top up the current 6.5 percent of open spaces in the city to 10 percent, part of which will be possible through the gazetting of Bukit Gasing.

Mohd Isa has reportedly engaged Mineral and Geo-Science Department and Universiti Teknologi Malaysia to conduct a RM2 million survey on hillside development in the city.

Community reactions

One of the groups, Friends of Bukit Gasing, wants City Hall to immediately gazette the only secondary forest in the city as a green lung in keeping with the previous mayor's pledge in 2002.

Retiree SS Singham who served as Selangor forestry director for over 10 years and also in Kedah and Pahang, described the situation as "a disgraceful state of affairs" and stressed on "an urgent need to rectify it".

Dataran Ukay RT chief Yuen Yuet Leng, a former Perak police chief, was worried that certain individuals are appearing to become a law unto themselves.

"We fought communists to defend the country but those who survived both the emergencies are appalled by what is going on now," he said.

Environmental Protection Society Malaysia president Mano Maniam decried the culture of fear which led to public apathy.

"The culture of apathy is a result of fear. We need to deal with fear and greed before we can overcome them," he said.

Maxwell Tower Owners Association vice-chairperson Victor Oorjitham said RAs/RTs must send representatives to attend local council meetings in order to monitor the progress or status of land and green lungs.

Echoing Fernandez, MNS executive director Dr Loh Chi Leong said it was incumbent upon the city authorities to fulfil past promises on Bukit Gasing.

"The previous mayor gave an assurance that City Hall will not allow any commercial projects on Bukit Gasing and a study was initiated to be completed within 18 months. What has happened to that report?" he asked.

"City Hall also promised not to develop any area with a gradient of more than 30 degrees but Mohd Isa's statement contradicts this."

Friends of Bukit Kiara pro-tem chairperson Loo Khooi Cheng lamented that hundreds of hectares have been used for equestrian clubs and golf courses.

The community groups plan to continuously engage elected representatives to push for the gazetting of more green lungs in PJ and KL.