Residents want Ria park gazetted
The Star 2/5/2005
SUBANG JAYA: Once again the residents here have joined forces to save
whatever that is left of the Subang Ria park, that is still 'free'.
Last Saturday, residents gathered at the park to voice their fear that
developers were exploiting the term 'recreation' to turn the public park
into a theme park.
As it is, two parties had exploited the word 'recreation' for commercial
purposes.
The lake has been privatised while a portion of the 30-hectare park has
been handed over to a sports company to be turned into a paintball park.
Several groups were unhappy with development at Subang Ria. They held
placards calling for the area to be gazetted as a green lung.
The Healing Chi Association of Malaysia who used to exercise there is a
victim and is unhappy that half the park is no longer available to the
public.
An Association member, Khadijah Yeong Shaari, said her group has to keep
looking for new spots to do their breathing exercise.
"With about half the park left, the only peaceful space we have is on an
unlevelled ground near high tension wires, which we consider very
unhealthy," she said.
Residents also complain that the park is not suitable for paintball as the
palettes from the gun can hurt passers-by despite the netting around the
field.
A resident, Lau Bing, who has collected more than 3,000 signatures for the
park to be gazetted as a green lung, said commercialising the park is a
cause for concern, as residents would soon have to pay to be able to enjoy
the fresh air and beauty.
"These businessmen have robbed us of a very valuable part of the park.
We are afraid that we might lose the park one day as a huge portion of it
has already been fenced up by businesses," he said.
Lau was referring to the paintball field, the go-kart circuit, the fishing
lake, the futsal centre and the restaurant.
He and thousands of other residents who own properties in Subang Jaya feel
cheated by the developer who had marked Subang Ria as recreational park in
the purchaser's map.
Lau has written to the Prime Minister's Department, the Housing and Local
Government Ministry, the Selangor Menteri Besar, the Sports Ministry, the
Health Ministry, the Subang Jaya Municipal Council and the developer and
owner of the park, Sime UEP, but nothing has been done.
Since 1998, the residents have fought to save the park from being
developed. They successfully lobbied to stop a low-rise condominium
project.
The then State Exco for squatters, local government and urbanisation,
Datuk Fuad Hassan, said the status of the land is only for recreation.
While there was talk that the park would be developed, the MIC Subang Jaya
Town Centre and Consumers Arbitration, Advocacy, Redress & Service Centre
(CAARSC) launched a Save Taman Subang Ria campaign.
It prompted the authorities to issue denials there would be any
development on the park. |
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