Protect parks or face shame
The Star 7/4/2005 BY FOONG PEK YEE
KUALA LUMPUR: Local authorities which defy orders to
protect green lungs and open spaces meant for recreation will be made
known to the public – that’s the order from the Government.
The directive issued by the Cabinet at its meeting in
Putrajaya yesterday is meant to make the local authorities accountable.
Follow-up action will be taken against these authorities
if there is no improvement in their performance.
Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Seri Ong Ka
Ting said there had been cases where land gazetted for parks and
recreational facilities were degazetted for development projects.
He said his ministry would submit to the Cabinet a
progress report on all local authorities’ compliance with an order from
the National Council for Local Government issued in August 2003 to:
GAZETTE all green lungs, parks and open space, which
have yet to be gazetted.
PLACE all those which were already gazetted under their
respective state secretary for supervision to prevent any quarters from
degazetting the land for developmental purposes.
UNDERTAKE early action to turn the gazetted open space
into parks, gardens and playgrounds.
Ong said compliance with guidelines on green lungs and
open space for parks and recreational facilities in the past had been
found to be “not good enough.”
Certain quarters would apply to develop such land for
purposes other than what they were meant for, and there were local
authorities which relaxed the guidelines for them, he said.
He said land matters may be under the state governments'
jurisdiction but orders from the national council, chaired by the Deputy
Prime Minister and represented by all mentris besar, chief ministers and
key ministries, were also binding.
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