KUALA LUMPUR: KHAZANAH Nasional Bhd managing director Tan Sri Azman Mokhtar reassured the public that the 26.7ha Taman Tugu project will not make way for any commercial project in the future.
He said the park would be run by a public trust in perpetuity and Khazanah had studied several models around the world, such as the National Trust in the United Kingdom.
Azman said the public trust would ensure that Malaysians could enjoy the open space and preserve the park for the public.
“The cabinet has agreed to the concept of a public trust and we are working on that.
“We will give it maximum protection. That’s why we are going for the public trust in perpetuity.
“We are looking at various models, such as the wakaf (endowment) model,” he said when chairing the second dialogue session on the project here yesterday.
He said the public trust would be readied in stages from 2018 to 2020.
Azman allayed concerns regarding the park’s maintenance cost, adding that RM100 million had been allocated to upkeep the park for 10 years.
During the dialogue, members of the public had asked whether the park could live up to its primary responsibility in the future.
They were worried that commercial interest might encroach on the park due to its strategic location.
Citizen Khairul Anuar said the park must not suffer the same fate
as Bukit Nenas and Bukit Ceylon that gave way to commercial expansions.
Seputeh member of parliament Teresa Kok urged Khazanah to allocate funds for smaller parks in the city as its increasing population and expensive land prices had caused a loss of community gardens.
She suggested longer opening hours for Taman Tugu as most public parks were closed by early evening.
“It’s nice to have a park with longer opening hours as many
people have to work late in the city or go back home later to avoid traffic jams.”
In response, Azman said the park would open for 18 hours a day, beginning at 6am.
Sara Asri Mohamad, a mother of two from Bangi, said Khazanah should ensure the playground was designed with shade for children.
“Playgrounds get too hot by 10am and this prevents kids from staying outdoors longer,” she said, citing her experience at Taman Tasik Titiwangsa as an example.
She also suggested a more “adventurous” playground for children.
Universiti Malaya student Gary Tan said Khazanah should consider offering students a chance to volunteer in helping out with the park’s upkeeping.
He suggested that private spaces be made available for rent so that the public could hold events like weddings.
There will be more public engagement sessions scheduled in the coming weeks and details will be updated on www.tamantugu.com.my.
The public can provide input via online surveys on the website and at booths that will be located around the city.