Dear Mr Developer,
 |
I write this letter as a long time resident of Taman Melawati, who with my family moved to this beautiful place more than 15 years ago. We came here because we loved the feeling of being surrounded by green hills. The natural environment made the neighbourhood so much cooler and more pleasant than most places in K.L. Lately we've seen the very reason we moved into Melawati being taken away from us and it is heart wrenching to see and feel the effects of the ongoing development on hillsides of Taman Melawati, namely 20Trees and Amberhill. We shudder to imagine the same fate for the hill in Phase 3 that we so love, to see it raped & denuded of its resplendent cloak of trees, reduced to a cowering & shamed piece of raw earth to be covered with concrete structures. Developers herald these luxury homes as 'life at the peak', high above the rest of poor unfortunate Melawati. Promises of safety for these projects on the hill-slopes will only mean more dismal news for the neighbours below. The beautiful green surrounding them will disappear, and in its place, massive concrete retaining walls that not only completely eliminate the scenery, but due to loss of trees, will also greatly increase the environmental temperature. Despite the tragic landslides that have occured in the Ulu Kelang region we see how easily Malaysians forget as hill-slopes continue to be developed.
 |
Mr Developer, the hill in Phase 3 of Taman Melawati, is not some forgotten piece of land that has just been lying there unused. This hill has become the soul of Melawati. Young and old, rich or poor, regardless of race & colour, we cherish this hill. It is a place that has brought the community together, which is uncommon in this day and age when sadly, race distinction is more pronounced than it was when we were growing up. The hill is a favourite picnic, walking, jogging and exercise spot not just for residents of Melawati, but also for people from neighbouring Taman Permata, Taman Melati, Taman Zooview, Wangsa Maju, Wangsa Melawati, Bukit Antarabangsa and Kemensah Heights. Even our visitors from overseas enjoy and appreciate this hill that we've been blessed with. They especially love the fact that it isn't a well manicured walkway, but instead, a walk in the middle of an authentic tropical jungle with a magnificent view of the world's longest quartz ridge. It is home to a variety of flora and fauna, some of which have had to flee development on nearby hills that deprived them of their homes. School children don't have to go far to be taught awareness, appreciation and preservation of nature. Many of us have also discovered the thrill of bird-watching on this hill.
Yuppies might favour the gym, but many older people (including us nature lovers and young at heart) prefer the lovely walk up the hill. Besides, this green sanctuary has been an amazing place where many who have suffered from ailments and even strokes have made speedy recoveries.
 |
And to add to that, wonderful friendships developed on the hill are just part of the package. It is places like these that give us opportunities to get to know and understand each other, to build up the community feeling.
Walking up the Melawati hill in the coolness of the early morning air or in the evening as the sun sets, is therapeutic for the physique as well as for the soul. There's nothing like reaching the top and rewarding yourself with a magnificent view of the mountain range and the Klang Gates dam in the distance. I cannot imagine never being able to drink in that view again. Take this away from us and we won't just lose a hill.. we will lose a very special place for time spent communing with nature, friends and God.
I express the views of most residents in Taman Melawati. I wish you could see that to take away the much needed green lung of the community and the soul of Melawati for the benefit of a few who can afford multi-million ringgit bungalows would be a crying shame. This may sound simplistic, but we hope you will reconsider the plans for development on this hill and consider giving back to society out of the abundance you have been blessed with. Use the fruits of your success to keep the world green for future generations. Leave behind a green heritage..
Sincerely,
Suja Abraham,
Tmn Melawati, K.L.
