More green lungs look set to disappear

WE were informed by a chat group in Subang Jaya that a signature drive was being held to protest the conversion of Taman Subang Ria in SS12 and Apartment BNM in SS15 into commercial land for high-density development.

The only public park in Subang Jaya, Taman Subang Ria was designated as a public park in the 1970s. It provides a scenic entry into the Subang Jaya township.

Promises to upgrade the park had been made by the developer of the area, but nothing to that effect was done and it has remained basic. I believe the park was never handed over to the Subang Jaya Municipal Council (MPSJ) after the housing projects in the area were completed.

We do not want high-rise apartments to replace our park and the green lung in SS15. This is also going to cause congestion and traffic jams.

Are there no rules regulating the size of green space in a township or within a given land area? How can the courts keep ruling in favour of development at the cost of green lungs that are necessary for the climate and for the people who live in the affected areas? Parks are essential for the health of the community, and it is evident that Subang Jaya residents use the park every day. In fact, we need more green lungs and trees.

Subang Jaya is one of the areas that are highly prone to lightning strikes. Every day, we are reminded of climate change and that maintaining green lungs and forests can help to delay its effects. How can development continue with a total disregard for the future of mankind?

In the past few days, I have come to know of more such projects that threaten our well-being and existence. In the letter “Hopes for Kiara Park in despair” ( The Star, Nov 28), it was stated that the development project in Kiara Park (Taman Tun Dr Ismail in Kuala Lumpur) would continue after the minister concerned asked the developer to scale it down. As the writer put it, our new Pakatan Harapan government’s election manifesto was to “rebuild the nation” and “fulfil the hopes of the people.” But it looks like the hopes of preserving Kiara Park have ended in despair. I hope the same doesn’t happen with Taman Subang Ria.

I’ve also just read the news that a housing project has been proposed within the Bukit Lagong forest reserve in Gombak. A 30-day public hearing is ongoing to seek feedback on a proposal to de-gazette part of this forest reserve.

Selangor Forestry Department director Datuk Dr Mohd Puat Dahalan stated that “should any forest reserve area be excised, it would have to be replaced on a one-to-one basis. This means that the party that acquires the land would have to acquire adjacent land that is equal or larger in size than the excised land. The land will then be handed back to the state to be gazetted as a forest reserve.”

But it doesn’t make sense that the forest reserve is destroyed for development and a new forest reserve has to be built to replace it.

The Pakatan government must look into the development and preservation of our existing green lungs and forest reserves as this impacts every one of us and has far-reaching consequences on the climate, air and water, health of the people, future of the country and, most importantly, the economy.

KAMAL GEHI Subang Jaya