Taman Rimba Kiara: What Next After the Federal Court Ruling?

The long battle by Taman Tun Dr Ismail (TTDI) residents to save Taman Rimba Kiara (TRK) from development was not just about green lungs it was about transparency, governance, and accountability. And now, even after a landmark Federal Court (FC) ruling, many are left asking: What happens next?

A Battle for Green Space

In 2014, Dewan Bandaraya Kuala Lumpur (DBKL) quietly transferred 12 out of 25 acres of TRK a beloved public park to Yayasan Wilayah Persekutuan (YWP) without any public consultation. No hearings. No explanations.

Just before that, YWP had already entered into a joint venture with Memang Perkasa Sdn Bhd (MPSB), a subsidiary of Malton Bhd, to develop the land. By 2017, DBKL had issued a development order (DO) to construct eight blocks of luxury serviced apartments (1,766 units) and a single block of affordable housing (350 units).

Taking It to Court

TTDI residents, on their own initiative and at their own cost, took DBKL to court. They challenged the legality of the DO and demanded DBKL to gazette its city plan a plan that clearly designated the 12-acre site as part of a public park.

The case dragged on for seven years, finally culminating in a historic decision by the Federal Court in April 2023. The court unanimously ruled that DBKL had acted unlawfully and quashed the DO. The mayor, they said, had wrongly exercised his discretion under the Federal Territory (Planning) Act 1982, ignoring an existing master plan.

Conflict of Interest Exposed

The Federal Court also flagged a serious conflict of interest: the mayor wore too many hats as a DBKL authority figure, as a trustee of YWP, and as someone with significant influence over approvals. This, they said, undermined fair governance.

The joint venture deal itself raised red flags. MPSB was to pay YWP RM160 million, contingent upon YWP facilitating approvals and obtaining a DO. If the deal failed, YWP would owe over RM60 million to MPSB, a financial arrangement that clearly pressured all parties to push for development at all costs.

And who knew all this? The office of the KL mayor would have been fully aware.

The Promise to Restore TRK

In 2023, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim then overseeing the Federal Territories Department, pledged that TRK would be reinstated as a city park in all current and future plans, including the KL City Plan 2020 and KL Structure Plan 2040.

The Cabinet also stepped in, instructing DBKL to preserve the green space and build permanent housing for 98 families in the adjacent longhouse area. That’s a start. But…

Where’s the Accountability?

It’s been nearly two years since the FC decision. So where are the consequences?

The court found DBKL’s actions to be “fundamentally flawed,” “invalid,” and “bad in law.” It highlighted serious weaknesses in local governance, especially in town planning and administration.

The FC also emphasized that DBKL had a duty to fully disclose all relevant facts, and not suppress or camouflage the truth which, it appears, it failed to do.

Yet, DBKL used public funds taxpayers’ money to defend the indefensible all the way up to the highest court. Reports were lodged with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) as far back as 2018. In 2019, Segambut MP Hannah Yeoh questioned why nothing was being done.

Do we need another report or police case to trigger action? Isn’t the Federal Court’s judgment enough?

The Hollow Promises

Let’s not forget in a 2017 town hall meeting, then-Federal Territories Minister Datuk Seri Utama Tengku Adnan (Ku Nan) gave his word: TRK would remain untouched. Yet here we are. Another broken promise by a politician, another betrayal of public trust.

The Bigger Picture: Governance Reform

The TRK saga isn’t just about a park. It’s a window into deeper systemic issues opaque decision-making, conflict of interest, lack of accountability, and abuse of power. And when no action follows such a decisive court ruling, it signals to the public that bad governance is acceptable. That’s dangerous.

Billions have been lost to mismanagement. If we keep looking the other way, we are complicit. It’s time for real consequences not just nice speeches and recycled pledges.

A Final Word: Listen to the People

The rakyat have spoken. The courts have ruled. The facts are clear. What’s left now is political will to act justly, transparently, and with urgency.

Authority is never absolute. It must always come with accountability, public scrutiny, and above all, a moral compass.

What say you?