Community garden told to evict just weeks after catching PM's eye

 

The Kebun-Kebun Bangsar community garden in Kuala Lumpur has been told to vacate the land it occupies just weeks after earning Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob’s admiration.

On Instagram last night, Kebun-Kebun Bangsar posted a picture of a notice from the Kuala Lumpur land administrator, dated June 23, ordering them to vacate the land immediately.

It warned that enforcement action could be taken at any time to evict them forcibly, and failure to comply with the order can bring a fine of up to RM500,000 or a jail term of up to five years.

“Any appeals will no longer be considered,” the notice read.

It also posted screenshots of Ismail Sabri’s praises for Kebun-Kebun Bangsar and a similar project in Kerinchi.

“I’m drawn by the Kebun-Kebun Bangsar and Kebun-Kebun Kerinchi community projects in Kuala Lumpur, which are run by the local community using their own funds.

“I hope the government’s commitment towards its green agenda can be sown amongst all layers (of society) for the sake of Keluarga Malaysia’s future,” Ismail Sabri said on Twitter on June 5.

“All within a few weeks,” Kebun-Kebun Bangsar lamented on its Instagram account.

The garden is located beneath TNB high tension cables in the plush Bukit Pantai neighbourhood, where flowers, vegetables and mushrooms are grown. Some animals, such as peacocks, goats, ducks and chickens, are also kept.

Kebun-Kebun Bangsar founder Ng Sek San told Malaysiakini in a 2017 interview that its purpose was to reclaim the dwindling number of public spaces as places for people to gather.

However, the garden also drew persistent complaints from some local residents, particularly about the presence of the farm animals.

In a statement, Federal Territories Land and Mines director Muhammad Yasir Yahya said his office is taking action against Kebun-Kebun Bangsar for allegedly violating its temporary occupancy licence conditions for operating as a nursery.

This meant only certain plants could be cultivated, and no permanent structures could be erected.

Muhammad said his office also received verbal and written complaints regarding “disturbance” from the garden.

“Investigations found that the garden reared several farm animals such as chickens, ducks and lambs, which caused other issues such as odour pollution, flies and noise that is also the main reason for the enforcement action.

“The Federal Territories Land and Mines Director’s Office is always supportive of efforts towards urban farms, in line with the government’s and the ministry’s aspirations.

“However, compliance with temporary occupation licence conditions is needed for the benefit of all parties,” Muhammad said.- Mkini