The Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) today rescinded its eviction notice on the Kebun-Kebun Bangsar community garden.
In a statement issued today, DBKL said that the farm was now classified as a Local Agenda 21 (LA21) KL urban neighbourhood farm.
DBKL’s LA21 KL is a programme aimed at implementing sustainable development at a local level.
The decision was made following a meeting today chaired by DBKL executive director (planning) Sulaiman Mohamed with representatives from Kebun-Kebun Bangsar, relevant stakeholders, representatives from resident associations and Tenaga Nasional Bhd (TNB).
Kebun-Kebun Bangsar 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.
The urban farm, which has been operating since October 2016, earned DBKL’s praise today as an exemplary project using TNB’s reserve land.
“Various activities have been carried out to make it a successful model farm, visited by various local and foreign delegations.
“The farm had also received various support from the media and public for conducting agricultural education activities to visitors due to the farm’s variety of crops and herbs.
“It has also received various grants from Khazanah Nasional and ThinkCity for its good placemaking initiatives,” DBKL said.
Violating terms
DBKL served its eviction notice on June 27, five years after the farm had been operating with a temporary occupation licence (TOL).
The notice was served just weeks after earning Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob’s admiration for its contribution to the government’s green agenda.
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.
Federal Territories Land and Mines director Muhammad Yasir Yahya explained that the eviction notice was issued because the TOL was for a nursery and that the premise contained permanent structures, which was a violation of licence terms.
Yasir added that his office had also received complaints about the “disturbances” caused by farm animals.
Positive outcome
Ng told Malaysiakini that today’s meeting was extremely constructive and that he was grateful for the support.
“We look forward to more positive engagement with the authorities to enable more local communities to start their own urban farms and gardens.
“Our local residents, residential associations, other NGOs and (Lembah Pantai MP) Fahmi Fadzil have come out in force today to bring about this positive outcome,” he said. - Mkini
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