BY JADE CHAN

Zuraidah says the programme will help foster closer ties among residents and serve as a platform for urban farming.

“KEBUN Kita”, a rebranded version of the “Kebun Komuniti” initiative, will be launched early next month at the Section 8 Kota Damansara PPR Flats in Petaling Jaya.

“The site, which was formerly filled with bushes and undergrowth, will be turned into a vegetable, herb and fruit garden,” said Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) Landscape Department director Zuraidah Sainan.

Kebun Kita (Our Garden) involves a collaboration of individuals and agencies that will share their expertise and skills.

The earlier Kebun Komuniti (Community Garden) initiative only involved resident groups and MBPJ.

“A committee has been set up to ensure the project is more organised and better managed,” said Zuraidah, adding that Kebun Kita would be implemented on a 1.2ha plot of idle reserve land located within the grounds of the flats.

Work had started in December on 0.2ha land that belongs to the state government.

“I was told that the plan is for 75% of the produce to be allocated to residents while 25% will be for soup kitchen projects,” said Zuraidah.

The first community garden was established in Section 10 Kota Damansara in 2008.

The other gardens are located at Jalan PJS 6/4E, Taman Megah Phase 2, Jalan BU 12/1, Ara Damansara and Jalan PJS 1/25.

Meanwhile, Zuraidah said the department was carrying out beautification works at three roundabouts in the PJ Old Town vicinity.

The beautification project, which encompasses the Penchala Roundabout, Assunta Roundabout and Sultan Roundabout, will cost more than RM1.5mil and work is expected to be completed by next month.

Zuraidah added that under MBPJ’s 2017 Budget, RM8.7mil had been allocated for beautification and landscape upgrading works.

She was speaking after MBPJ’s monthly assembly on Tuesday, which was hosted by the Landscape Department.

Present at the event were Selangor state secretary Datuk Mohd Amin Ahmad Ahya, Petaling Jaya mayor Datuk Mohd Azizi Mohd Zain, Petaling Jaya deputy mayor Johary Anuar and MBPJ deputy secretary Ahmat Mohaayen Said.

In his speech, Mohd Amin reminded MBPJ staff to be prudent in their expenditure and ensure resources were used optimally.

Mohd Amin added that Selangor’s 2017 budget was projected to have a deficit of RM900mil.

The assembly also marked the closing of the month-long National Landscape Day celebrations in Petaling Jaya.

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