Celebrate Earth Day with Friends of Bukit Kiara

KUALA LUMPUR: The Friends of Bukit Kiara (FoBK) will hold the Earth Day KL 2019 celebration at Taman Lembah Kiara tomorrow with the objective to build public awareness about preserving Bukit Kiara as a green lung and to manage it within a government-community collaborative framework.

FoBK president Dr Kribanandan Gurusamy Naidu said the government must commit itself to a people-centric approach to protect forested and park areas of Bukit Kiara from future development.

“It must put in place a dynamic and responsive management framework that can realise Bukit Kiara’s full potential to be the nation’s premier urban green lung and a model for public green spaces.”

Kribanandan said among the activities planned for Earth Day KL 2019 were fun walks, talks and workshops.

He said the celebration was to encourage Malaysians to advocate for greater accountability in protecting the nation’s green spaces for future generations.

“This must come from learning to appreciate and enjoy our national heritage and getting perspectives on how a people movement like FoBK can shape the future of our country’s green lungs.

“The event’s venue, Taman Lembah Kiara, is one of the components that were conceptualised to make Bukit Kiara a complete, holistic outdoor recreational area, catering to people from all walks of life.”

Earth Day KL 2019 is organised in collaboration with non-governmental organisations with the support of Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL), Jabatan Lanskap Negara (JLN) and the Office of Member of Parliament, Segambut.

FoBK, or Persatuan Sahabat Rimba Bukit Kiara, is a non-profit organisation registered under the Registrar of Societies in 2014. It started in the 1990s as the green lung lobby group of the Taman Tun Dr Ismail Residents Association.

FoBK was set up to garner public support to preserve the sanctity of the Bukit Kiara green lung.