KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 29 — The atmosphere at Taman Tasek Tambahan in Ampang last weekend was lively as usual with dozens of people taking advantage of the good weather to indulge in recreational activities with their families or do some jogging or cycling.
The spacious verdant park, located on the outskirts of the capital city, is also an ideal spot for the nearby residents to chit chat and have picnics in the evening whilst watching their children play on the swings and slides and enjoying the greenery around them and the vibrant colours of the setting sun.
Mastura Abdul Mansor, 35, a religious school teacher who resides in a nearby housing area, told Bernama she brings her two children to the park regularly, adding that even as early as 6 am it is full of people of all races and ages who come there to exercise.
She said the park has been attracting more people ever since the Ampang Jaya Municipal Council (MPAJ) made some improvements and provided more facilities like a pedestrian walkway, gymnasium equipment and a track to operate remote control cars.
HEALTHY & SUSTAINABLE CITY PROJECT
People who have not visited Taman Tasek Tambahan may assume it is located in a sparsely populated area with lots of green space. Their assumption is not entirely wrong considering how hard it is for urban folks to have access to parks and recreation grounds due to space constraints.
Interestingly, Taman Tasek Tambahan is located in a densely populated area with over 50,000 people living in the vicinity of the park which is surrounded by various types of developments. Who would have thought such a developed area would boast a green lung that enables the local community to lead a healthier lifestyle?
Iris Najwa Irwan, a 25-year-old private-sector employee, who jogs at the park, said those who cannot afford to go to a gym can work out for free at the park has gym equipment available for use.
“Of course, the equipment is limited compared with a real gym, but they add to the variety of activities we can do here to improve our fitness and quality of life.
‘But I do hope the residents here will take good care of the improved facilities at the park and refrain from vandalising them.”
Taman Tasek Tambahan is one of three locations identified by the Local Government Development Ministry for its Healthy City pilot project under the Healthy Malaysia National Agenda (Agenda Nasional Malaysia Sihat. or ANMS), which is part of the government’s efforts to enhance sustainability and retain green spaces in urban areas.
The two other locations for the Healthy City pilot project are Jerantut in Pahang and Taman Tasik Putra in Kulim, Kedah. The government has allocated RM1.5 million for the entire pilot project.
Work on upgrading Taman Tasek Tambahan’s facilities started on Oct 8, 2021. It was supposed to have been completed on Jan 7 last year but was delayed due to the enforcement of movement controls the previous year to check the spread of Covid-19.
Despite the delay, the upgrading efforts have already borne fruit as the park’s better facilities have made the area more liveable and improved the well-being of the residents there.
The improvement and upgrading of facilities in the park are based on the Healthy City design guidelines that encompass pedestrian and bicycle pathways, lighting and support services such as putting up signboards to provide information on health as well as structures such as gazebos and benches, according to MPAJ president Dr Ani Ahmad.
FEWER CRIMES
In a written reply to questions posed by Bernama, she said the objective of the park’s upgrading exercise is in line with one of the core thrusts of ANMS, namely creating an environment that is supportive of a healthy lifestyle.
Besides promoting healthy lifestyle practices, the agenda also focuses on strengthening wellness, empowering personal health and improving environmental cleanliness.
“Some of the elements that have been given priority in the implementation of this Healthy City project (in Taman Tasek Tambahan) are the provision of an outdoor gym and making improvements to the remote control car track and children’s playground. All these upgrading works have indirectly met the needs of the residents of our municipality,” she said.
Incidentally, the improvements have not only allowed the local community to lead a healthier lifestyle but also reduced the crime rate in the area.
“All the overgrown bushes and grass (in the park) have been cleared and the lighting has also been improved, making the area safer,” Ani said.
She added that based on fear of crime data gleaned by MPAJ with regard to the safety of Taman Tasek Tambahan, its safety level has gone up to 75 per cent from 50 per cent previously, thanks to the ongoing Healthy City project.
The project’s positive impact on the local community has resulted in the park being used as a benchmark for other areas as well. This is no ordinary feat as it is not easy to turn a densely populated area into a healthy and liveable town.
Ani also said MPAJ is carrying out various activities to improve public awareness of the importance of practising a healthy lifestyle. The activities include conducting campaigns on health, safety, cleanliness and energy savings as well as programmes on the development of green technology in an effort to turn Ampang Jaya into a low carbon and sustainable town.
“For example, we have already started making an inventory of the trees in the Ampang area, aimed at educating the people here on the diversity of its tree species so that they can learn more about these trees. We are also organising tree-planting programmes in an effort to preserve and conserve Ampang’s shade trees,” she explained.
GOALS
The positive impact of the Healthy City project on the people residing in the surroundings of Taman Tasek Tambahan is ample proof that the government’s sustainable urban policy can be implemented successfully in populous areas.
Universiti Putra Malaysia Faculty of Design and Architecture dean Associate Prof Dr Suhardi Maulan said the Healthy City project is among the government’s initiatives to create sustainable cities and improve the well-being of people residing in densely populated places, particularly in urban areas.
The United Nations Centre for Human Settlements defines a sustainable city as one “where achievements in social, economic and physical development are made to last”.
US-based non-profit organisation Research Triangle Institute International, meanwhile, defines it as a “metropolitan region that can compete successfully at the global level while still retaining the uniqueness of its culture and environment”.
Said Suhardi: “The Healthy City project allows cities to remain sustainable in terms of environmental, social and economic sustainability. Such cities are capable of providing the proper conditions for the preservation and conservation of the environment, social interactions and development of community activities.
“The Healthy City efforts are also consistent with the United Nations’ sustainable development goals and other things.”
Sustainable cities and the creation of a green environment are among the major issues on the radar of Local Government Development Minister Nga Kor Ming who is committed to ensuring the realisation of the government’s objective to improve the well-being of urban communities by providing them with the necessary social spaces that can enhance the liveability of their residential areas.
The creation of resilient and liveable cities as well as the preservation and conservation of urban biodiversity are among the initiatives being undertaken by the government to enable Malaysia to meet the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.
Nga was recently quoted as saying that his ministry is focusing on seven key areas that will effectively accelerate the localisation of the SDGs. These include enhancing the nation’s smart and sustainable cities agenda, developing and empowering local government, strengthening municipal finance, developing a comprehensive housing plan, empowering communities, managing the nation’s solid waste effectively and efficiently towards circular economy and strengthening the readiness of firefighters.
COMMITMENT
Urban planning services company Urban Scale Studio Sdn Bhd director Mohammad Fahmi Alias said if the Healthy City project is implemented widely in urban areas, it can serve as one of the indicators for the low-carbon cities checklist that is often used in development plans in Malaysia.
The project can also serve as one of the parameters for the preservation of greenery in urban areas, he said, pointing to Vienna, Austria, which provides ample public spaces, complete with green landscaping, within the main city for the people to pursue recreational activities or relax.
“This Healthy City project will also ensure green spaces are not merely meant to be conserved without any activity but can also be turned into an area where the public can take part in leisure activities without the need for any permanent structure to be built there,” he added.
Ministry of Local Government Development’s Town and Country Planning Department unit, PLANMalaysia, director-general Dr Alias Rameli said the Healthy City project is part of efforts to empower individuals and the community to practice a healthy way of living as well as maintain the cleanliness of their environment.
PLANMalaysia is tasked with the responsibility of overseeing the Healthy City project under the Healthy Malaysia National Agenda or ANMS.
He said the choice of locations for the pilot project was based on their Urban Sustainability Index which is measured through the Malaysian Urban and Rural Sustainable Development network, location potential and the local authority’s commitment towards the implementation of the project.
“It’s hoped that the creation of healthy cities will support the nation’s green development and sustainable cities agenda as well as improve the people’s physical and mental health levels,”
— Bernama
