KUALA LUMPUR, April 18 – After a long court process and a wait of more than five years, the residents of Taman Tun Dr.Ismail and the surrounding areas, who had been fighting against a development plan in their public park, today celebrated their win at the court.
The win would see them saving Taman Rimba Kiara, a green space in the area, from a development plan that would have also robbed the city of one of its remaining green lungs.
A statement issued by Save Taman Rimba Kiara Working Group, Persatuan Penduduk Rumah Panjang Bukit Kiara and Taman Tun Dr Ismail Residents’ Association, announced that the Federal Court re-confirmed the cancellation of development order for Taman Rimba Kiara condo project.
The Federal Court panel, comprising Chief Judge of Malaya Dato’ Mohamad Zabidin Mohd. Diah, Datuk Nallini Pathmanathan and Dato Rhodzariah binti Bujang, unanimously decided that the development order obtained in 2017 by the joint venture of Yayasan Wilayah Persekutuan and Developer Memang Perkasa Sdn Bhd for the Taman Rimba Kiara project as null and void.
Their judgment was delivered online via a zoom session. In doing so, the Federal Court panel re-affirmed the earlier decision of the Court of Appeal in Jan 2021 to nullify the said development order.
With this decision, the Federal Court has confirmed with finality that the 2017 Taman Rimba Kiara development order is quashed and cancelled.
The statement jointly signed by the heads of the residents associations described it as a landmark victory for the people in the area who had been steadfast in their fight to protect the green space against unsustainable commercial interests.
They also commended Member of Parliament for Segambut, Hannah Yeoh and her team, who had continued to champion the welfare of the longhouse community and the preservation of Taman Rimba Kiara.
They also called on Yayasan Wilayah Persekutuan, new Datuk Bandar Datuk Kamarulzaman Mat Salleh and Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim (retaining oversight of KL administration via Jabatan Wilayah Persekutuan under the PM’s Office) to consider new permanent housing for the 100 longhouse families within the existing 4 acres of the Rumah Panjang.
“We have previously outlined a viable alternative plan to deliver such housing for the longhouse residents and we call on Datuk Bandar KL and the Prime Minister to work with us on delivering the same. Permanent housing can be delivered without having to destroy the adjacent green area in Taman Rimba Kiara.
“The Federal Court and Court of Appeal have been clear that the KL Structure Plan 2020 (gazetted 2004) is legally binding. The KL Structure Plan 2020 identified Taman Rimba Kiara as a city park and a public green space. We call on the Datuk Bandar and the Prime Minister to ensure that all necessary action is now taken to demonstrate compliance with the KL Structure Plan 2020. All administrative actions that have attempted to change the zoning/land use status of Taman Rimba Kiara (known as PT 9244) including via the KL Local Plan 2020 are, by virtue of the Federal Court decision, null and void. PT 9244’s status as a city park and public green space should be restored, both in the KL Local Plan 2020 and in all KL planning documents (whether current or future) including the KL Structure Plan 2040.”
— WE