Residents upset with plan to remove trees from park

A 3.25ha park in Bukit Rahman Putra (BRP) is at the center of a dispute between residents and the Selayang Municipal Council (MPS) over a road expansion plan that would occupy 20% of the park.

Lam Kin Tong, a 63-year-old resident, expressed his willingness to climb trees marked for removal in order to save them.

The Action Committee Against Destruction to Padang BRP spokesperson revealed that contractors arrived on August 21 to start the tree cutting work, but residents intervened to protect the trees.

Lam and committee member A. Venugopal took turns standing on ladders against the trees to prevent their removal.

Since August 24, the residents have been monitoring the park closely, with about 20 residents manning a makeshift post in shifts from 8am to 6pm daily.

An altercation occurred on August 24 between the contractors and residents at the BRP public park, leading to a police report being filed.

According to a notice board in the park, the road widening project is intended to alleviate traffic congestion near SMK Bukit Rahman Putra.

However, residents argue that the project is unnecessary and claim there are better solutions to the traffic problem.

M. Munis, a resident of 23 years, stated that widening the road would not significantly reduce congestion near the school but would severely impact the park’s green space.

Residents had previously raised their concerns about the project in writing to local authorities and the Mentri Besar, but have received no satisfactory response.

The action committee discovered irregularities in the project’s documents, including an expired planning permission and a lack of renewed work orders.

As a result, the residents will continue to protect the trees until the contractors and the municipal council produce the necessary documents.

Lam plans to set up a post to guard the park throughout the following week as a means of direct communication.

Residents are disappointed that MPS officers were not present to discuss the matter with them and Paya Jaras assemblyman Datuk Dr Halim Tamuri during his site visit.

Halim, upon receiving a folder containing the residents’ findings and alternative proposals, promised to find a swift solution by considering their proposals and discussing the issue with MPS.

StarMetro attempted to obtain comments from MPS but received no response by press time.