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KUALA LUMPUR: Only 91ha of the 24,221.05ha in Kuala Lumpur have been earmarked for forest reserves under the draft Kuala Lumpur 2020 City Plan to be maintained as forest reserves.
The three areas currently gazetted as forest reserves are Bukit Nenas, Bukit Sungei Air Puteh and Bukit Sungei Besi, covering only 0.25 per cent, or 61ha, of Kuala Lumpur.
Members of parliament in Kuala Lumpur, however, are not happy with that allocation.
The majority of them have one thing in common: they want more allocation for forest reserve in the city.
Many of them have yet to read through the two-volume draft released to the public on Thursday, but they are steadfast in wanting to see more land to be gazetted as "green lung" areas.
Wangsa Maju MP Wee Choo Keong came out strongly for more green lung areas.
He said Wangsa Maju, especially, needs more green lungs, playgrounds and sports facilities for the children and citizens there.
"I have looked at the plan and there is nothing to shout about.
"From the draft plan, I conclude that there are more plans for 'concrete jungles' than green lung areas in Kuala Lumpur.
"In other big cities like London, New York, Tokyo and Singapore, the local governments zealously guard their green lungs."
He stressed that the Wanga Maju area needed more parks and forest reserves, instead of plans for more housing development.
"We already have enough housing development here.
"I am certain that if we carry on building more houses here, the population will increase and the present infrastructure may not be able to cope with this increase.
"If this draft plan is approved as it is, then I am certain this will cause more traffic jams and an increase in the crime rate."
Wee also said the draft plan should have included public amenities, such as sports complexes, swimming pools, badminton, squash and basketball courts, libraries and community halls in Wangsa Maju.
Cheras MP Tan Kok Wai, said that he would be calling for a meeting with various groups next week to discuss the KL City Plan with special emphasis on the Cheras community.
"I will be inviting community leaders, officials from non-governmental organisations and representatives from residents' associations to discuss all aspects of the planning strategies. This will include upgrading work, preservation of the green lung areas, the environmental impact, infrastructure works and the road network in the area."
He said a major concern was the lack of Chinese schools in Cheras.
"There is a shortage of schools in the area. Eighty-four per cent of the residents here are Chinese and we hope more Chinese schools would be included in the plan."
He was, however, satisfied with City Hall's decision to have an open hearing on grouses and suggestions on the draft plan.
"But the problem is those who are sitting on the hearing committee are City Hall officials.
"They are the planners and they are also the implementers. They can be biased."
Tan suggested that the hearing should be chaired by people from professional bodies, community leaders, environmental organisations or urban planners.
Bukit Bintang MP Fong Kui Lun said that there are too many high-rise buildings in the Bukit Bintang area.
"We are in desperate need of more parks in the city.
"Currently, we are surrounded by an abundance of commercial buildings in the city centre."
He said he would be having a meeting with engineers and urban planners soon to discuss the draft KL City Plan and to see how Kuala Lumpur can be turned into a more "liveable city".
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