THE issue of developers suddenly owning a green lung and announcing the construction of a mall, a high-end residential or a new mixed development project is a big concern.
This is the case with Bukit Kiara in Taman Tun Dr Ismail, as it will be with the Kinrara Oval currently leased out to the Malaysian Cricket Association.
The association established the Kinrara Oval under a lease from Perumahan Kinrara Bhd, a joint-venture between I&P Group Sdn Bhd, Lembaga Tabung Angkatan Tentera and Lembaga Tabung Haji.
It was built in 2003 for an international cricket event, and it got to the point of becoming a renowned location to host the sport.
But now, a government-linked company wants to take the lease for the Oval and develop the 3.4ha landbank.
This despite Bank Negara Malaysia being concerned about the number of unsold housing and commercial properties.
I am a firm believer in green spaces and green lungs in urban developments. As such, I have to ask — how serious are we about protecting such public spaces from development?
I point this out because I do not see the same people who made noise about the Taman Tugu development making a to-do about the Kinrara Oval.
I do not see the same MPs, non-governmental organisations or even individuals stepping up to ask questions about how the land was suddenly zoned for development when it is an established green lung.
Perhaps everyone is silent because it is not in their interest or neighbourhood.
Yes, we can raise a million questions such as why the cricket association never paid the premium on the lease.
And yes, we can also argue that we should wait and see the Malaysian Sports Council (MSN) mediate the entire affair.
But today (Oct 31), when the lease officially expires, there will be no case, and the association, cricket fans and supporters will lose whatever standing they have, and it will be too late for the Youth and Sports Ministry and MSN to do anything.
This does not speak of a “new Malaysia” as marketed by the government. It is the old Malaysia where developers bully locals and insist on taking prime, green spaces for profit.
Where is the “new Malaysia” when we go through the same old problem in trying to keep green areas?
HAFIDZ BAHAROM
Petaling Jaya, Selangor