THE authorities must rescind its eviction notice against urban farm Kebun-Kebun Bangsar, which has been a community project in the area for more than five years, said Maria Chin Abdullah.
According to the Petaling Jaya MP, it is ironic that the eviction notice was sent merely weeks after Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob has praised the farm as part of his World Environment Day speech.
“This is not in line with Malaysia’s commitment to saving the environment,” said Maria.
She said with the current Government championing sustainability and green living, it would be expected for them to protect and preserve Kebun-Kebun Bangsar instead of evicting them.
“The Prime Minister needs to step in and take this matter seriously,” she remarked, adding that the farm has been a changemaker in the Klang Valley with people and children going there to learn, experience and even grow their own produce.
“There are even activities and campaigns to amplify these efforts, which have been backed by many political parties and MPs.”
Maria pointed out that it is also ironic that the farm – which has been there for more than five years – is now being subjected to a nuisance notice from the Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL).
“Even though the surrounding residents have given their approval for the farm, there are still some hidden hands that are trying to instigate the authorities,” she lamented.
“The Klang Valley is running out of green lung to make way for mass development. This farm is among the few places that have been preserving and cultivating greenery.
“We should be promoting more urban farming instead of trying to find a way to evict them. Especially in the current food crisis we are facing, there must be more measures taken to counter this, like promoting urban farming.”
Maria went on to urge the Government to take this matter seriously and not ignore the voice of the rakyat.
“I urge the authorities to reconsider their decision and help the farm get an occupation licence to continue operating as normal,” she justified.
“We need to create an eco-friendly, sustainable and green future for our coming generations. A farm like Kebun-Kebun Bangsar, in the midst of Klang Valley’s concrete jungle, is a sight for sore eyes.”
On Wednesday (June 29), Bernama reported that the Federal Territory Lands and Mines Department has taken enforcement action against the community farm for violating the terms of the Temporary Occupation License (LMS) for nursery purposes.
FT Lands and Mines director Datuk Muhammad Yasir Yahya said that the terms included the types of crops and no permanent structure should be built under the electric pylons based on the technical feedback from Tenaga Nasional Bhd (TNB).
Muhammad Yasir further said that the department had also received complaints of disturbances lodged by residences, and that investigation revealed that the nursery keeps various livestock thus raising other issues such as odour pollution, flies and noise disturbance which had led to the enforcement action. – July 1, 2022
