Community garden to reapply for temporary licence after eviction notice
The Kebun-Kebun Bangsar community garden, which was served an eviction notice last Thursday to vacate its land immediately, will apply again for a temporary occupation licence (TOL) from the Federal Territories Land and Mines Office.
Its founder Ng Sek San said they want the community project carried out on government land to be legitimate.
“We applied for the TOL in 2020 but...
The Kebun-Kebun Bangsar community garden, which was served an eviction notice last Thursday to vacate its land immediately, will apply again for a temporary occupation licence (TOL) from the Federal Territories Land and Mines Office.
Its founder Ng Sek San said they want the community project carried out on government land to be legitimate.
“We applied for the TOL in 2020 but it wasn’t approved three months ago,” he was quoted as saying by Berita Harian.
“We will apply again and we want to work with the authorities so that we are allowed to carry out the farming work here because we are not stealing,” he said.
The group posted on social media a picture of a notice from the Kuala Lumpur land administrator, dated June 23, ordering them to vacate the land immediately.
It warned that enforcement action could be taken at any time to evict them forcibly and failure to comply with the order can bring a fine of up to RM500,000 or a jail term of up to five years.
“Any appeals will no longer be considered,” the notice read.
The group also posted screenshots of Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob’s praises for Kebun-Kebun Bangsar and a similar project in Kerinchi.
Founded in 2017, Kebun-Kebun Bangsar is an effort to reclaim community green spaces, which are fast depleting in the urban jungle of Kuala Lumpur.
It is located on an 8.5-acre piece of hillside land which had been vacant for many years due to nearby electricity pylons.
The project was initially opposed by local residents who were concerned it would undermine the slope stability and bring outsiders into the upper-class neighbourhood.
The garden is located beneath high-tension electricity cables in the plush Bukit Pantai neighbourhood, where flowers, vegetables and mushrooms are grown. Some animals, such as peacocks, goats, ducks and chickens, are also kept.
Authorities acting on complaints
In a statement, Federal Territories Land and Mines director Muhammad Yasir Yahya said his office is taking action against Kebun-Kebun Bangsar for allegedly violating its TOL conditions for operating as a nursery.
This meant only certain plants could be cultivated and no permanent structures could be erected.
Yasir said his office also received verbal and written complaints regarding “disturbance” from the garden.
“Investigations found that the garden reared several farm animals such as chickens, ducks and lambs, which caused other issues such as odour pollution, flies and noise that is also the main reason for the enforcement action,” he said.
Meanwhile, Ng said the community project was developed in an area of about 3.2 hectares and involved the cultivation of various types of fruits and vegetables. It also housed 30 species of animals and insects.
He said the non-profit project was implemented for the purpose of education, the establishment of an ecosystem, and helping the poor.
“Every week we are able to produce 20kg of vegetables, which are distributed to the poor and refugees. We have 500 volunteers, including 40 who are active in handling the project,” he said.
The group was surprised to be slapped with an eviction notice due to complaints from residents as it received support from the neighbourhood, according to Ng.
Kebun-Kebun Bangsar was forced to temporary stopped their work after receiving the notice.
‘Is govt serious about food security?’
Meanwhile, Muda questioned if the government was serious about its commitment to tackling food security and achieving self-sufficiency or if it was merely political rhetoric.
In a statement today, Lembah Pantai Muda chief Shah Fariq Aizal Sha Ghazni expressed regret over the eviction notice issued against a community project which it claimed was beneficial to locals.
“Community projects like this should be encouraged, this sets an example for other communities and even for the people’s housing projects (PPR) to move into urban farming activities.
“Does this government support the land office’s move, which is seen as wanting to punish the people for activities that can affect food security? The government must provide an answer,” he said.
