Kuala Lumpur's Green Spaces Get a Lifeline Under New Urban Plan
Federal Territories Minister Hannah Yeoh has made protecting Kuala Lumpur's green spaces a top priority. She aims to balance urban growth with the need for parks and open areas, ensuring they serve both people and the environment.
Yeoh's plans include making these spaces more functional for recreation, climate resilience, and flood prevention.
Yeoh has highlighted past environmental harm caused by rapid development in the city. Her office is now reviewing policies to better protect existing parks and green zones. One key step involves officially gazetting these areas to prevent future construction.
She also stresses the importance of green spaces for older residents. Parks provide places for senior citizens to stay active and enjoy nature as they age. Beyond this, Yeoh wants Kuala Lumpur to become a truly smart city—one that focuses on sustainable, people-first urban planning.
However, she admits current systems have gaps. Limited open data on gazetted green spaces and municipal services makes planning more difficult. Without clear records, tracking changes or losses in green areas over the past five years remains a challenge.
Her team is working to improve transparency and efficiency. The goal is to ensure development does not come at the cost of the city's environmental and social well-being.
Yeoh's efforts focus on reversing past damage while preparing for future needs. By gazetting green spaces and improving data systems, her office hopes to secure parks for public use. The long-term aim is a city that grows sustainably, with spaces that benefit residents of all ages.
