“Green lungs are essential for an expanding city like Ipoh. Should they be destroyed it’d be detrimental to residents. We’d lose the fresh air and shade provided by the trees,” said Sajeeda Mohammad, 48, President of Pertubuhan Pelindung Khazanah Alam Malaysia (PEKA).
Residents of Ipoh Garden are against Ipoh City Council’s plan to develop the designated green lung in their housing estate.
The area in question is the 1.2-acre site along Jalan Sultan Azlan Shah besides the Kg Simee government clinic. Some 70-odd residents, including members of non-governmental organisations, gathered in front of the government clinic on Sunday, November 6, to demonstrate their opposition to the proposed project.
“I hope the MB and the mayor will take heed of residents’ fear and act accordingly,” said Sajeeda.
The other NGOs involved were Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM), led by Meor Razak Meor Abdul Rahman and Persatuan Aktivis Sahabat Alam (KUASA), led by Hafizudin Nasarudin.
A representative of the Residents’ Association of Ipoh Garden, Stanley Khor, 68, concurred with the rest, stressing the need to keep the green lung intact.
“I’d prefer City Council to plant more trees instead and turn the land into a park. It coincides with the Council’s slogan, ‘Ipoh Clean, Green and Developing’. As residents, we deserve better,” said Stanley to Ipoh Echo.
Rosli Mansor
