Hannah Welcomes Private Sector Collaboration To Utilise Gazetted Green Spaces

KUALA LUMPUR, April 16 (Bernama) -- Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Federal Territories) Hannah Yeoh has welcomed strategic collaborations with the private sector to ensure Kuala Lumpur’s gazetted green spaces remain vibrant, relevant and actively utilised by the public.

She said that while the government has continued to expand the number of gazetted green areas, it is insufficient if the public does not actively use them.

“There is no point in gazetting a green space if nobody is using it, and this is where partnership with the private sector will be important to create events and programmes,” she said.

Hannah said this at a press conference after witnessing the signing of a memorandum of collaboration (MoC) between Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) and CIMB Bank Bhd under the ‘Moving KL Forward - Kita Bagi Jadi’ initiative here, today.

Yesterday, Hannah announced that 45 additional green and open spaces in Kuala Lumpur have been gazetted, bringing the total number of protected areas in the federal capital to 539.

She noted that parks should also cater to diverse groups, including children with special needs and the elderly, especially as Malaysia moves towards an ageing population.

Meanwhile, on criticism of the ‘Bangun KL’ initiative, Hannah said it is an initiative by ZUS Coffee aimed at attracting coffee lovers.

“We embrace it because if you are an early bird and you enjoy coffee, then you get the discount. That’s all,” she said, adding that the Federal Territories Department welcomes collaboration with the private sector for the benefit of the people.

On April 9, Hannah said the ‘Bangun KL: Ke Arah Kuala Lumpur Yang Lebih Sejahtera initiative aims to encourage people to enter the capital earlier, thereby easing peak-hour congestion.

The programme has received widespread criticism, particularly among social media users, as the initiative is seen as merely a ‘marketing’ approach that does not address the worsening traffic congestion in the capital.

-- BERNAMA