message CHAIRMAN Abdul Hafiz Abu Bakar Dear Fellow Members and Residents, Salam sejahtera. First and foremost, I wish to take this opportunity to convey my sincere apprecia- tion to those members who attended our 31st AGM held on Saturday, 12 May 2018 at PKK Tuanku Bainun and voted in the new Execu- tive Committee for the 2018-20 term. The year 2018 was indeed an exciting year thus far. Just three days prior to the AGM, Malaysia voted in a new Government and TTDI being in the Segambut parliamentary constituency, welcomed our new MP YB Puan Hannah Yeoh. In an atmosphere of euphoria in the spirit of “Malaysia Baru” and to our delight, YB Hannah dropped by the AGM where she delivered a inspiring speech and announced her full support to saving Taman Rimba Kiara with a personal donation oRM10,000.00 towards the “Save Taman Rimba Kiara” Fund. To many long-term residents, TTDI holds a very special place in our hearts. This is our “kampong”. Our children were born, bred and grew up here; they went to school and made friends here, and some of them met, fell in love and got married here. What we are seeing nowadays are more families celebrating and enjoying festivities more in TTDI rather than in kampongs which involves making the mad rush and exodus out of the city. Ladies and gentlemen, I must say this again. This is our “kampong” and we must claim and take ownership of it. We must not only protect and maintain the sanctity and the quality of life as we know now, but we must fight, promote and strive to further enhance and enrich our living spaces for our benefit and for that of our future generations. masyarakat 1 ttdi Currently, as most of us are aware, our biggest threat is the proposed mega development at Taman Rimba Kiara (TRK). As a member of the Save TRK Working Group, the TTDI RA has been taking several measures such as organising events at TRK, promoting our cause through the social and mass media, initiating legal action and engaging the authorities, politicians, long-house residents and other stakeholders. At the same time, the TTDI RA is also one of the founding members of “Save Kuala Lumpur”, a coalition of several RAs in Kuala Lumpur for the promotion of local government elections and the immediate gazettement of the “Kuala Lumpur Draft City Plan 2020”. The TTDI RA is also now working together with local NGOs on initiatives such as the “TTDI Community Edible Garden” to promote urban farming, “Transitions TTDI” to encour- age sustainable living and meaningful devel- opment and with the “Zero- Waste Group”. In our quest to further enhance harmonious living and interaction among residents, the TTDI RA will continue to organise public awareness campaigns such as health talks and exhibitions, sporting and social events. At the same time, lofty but practical and feasible projects such the “TTDI Town Square” and “TTDI Orchestra” are currently being considered. My fellow neighbours. We all have one common goal, that is, to further enhance and enrich the quality of lives in our “kampong” TTDI for us and for our future generations. I therefore urge each and every one of you to stand up and be counted and play your part as well as make a meaningful contribution to our community. For a start, do sign up and encourage your family members, neighbours and friends to sign up as members of the TTDI RA. In respect of activities organised by the RA, please try to participate in the events organised by the RA such as the “Healthy Living Day” on Saturday 27th October at PKK Tuanku Bainun – YB Hannah Yeoh will be in attendance. Only with such strong support, participation and commitment can our TTDI community move forward to greater heights Thank you. masyarakat 2 ttdi editorial Blessed to be a part of the TTDI Community I have lived in Taman Tun since 1977, the year I got married to my then girlfriend who I met while studying at the University of Malaya. We needed a house of our own and since we were staying in Section 17, PJ, we looked for a house nearby. It was at this time that UDA Sea Park Sdn Bhd decided to turn a rubber estate into a housing estate. We bought the cheapest house available – a single-storey house in the Abang Hj Openg area for RM33,000. At that time, single-storey houses were going for about RM25,000 and RM33K therefore seemed pricey. We also saw the potential for a well-planned neighbourhood especially the immense green areas nearby. As we needed a house urgently, we decided to go for it (a decision which we cherish till today). I vividly remember the flyer saying something like ‘go back to nature – live next door to rubber trees’. While my hometown was Malacca and that of my wife, Rina, Segamat, Johor, my daugh- ter, Cheryl and son Dillon only know TTDI as their one and only kampong. Now we have lived in Taman Tun for the past 41 years and I am indeed proud to boast that TTDI is a friendly and respected neighbourhood equipped with all the amenities, market, parks, library, fire and police station, community Hall, playgrounds, pasar malam, mosque, and even a MRT station. Yes we do have our share of problems such as noise, overdevelopment and not enough parking facilities but tell me which community does not have problems. In fact TTDI is exceptionally blessed in terms of green spaces; we have Taman Persekutan Bukit Kiara (opposite the primary school), the hills of Bukit Kiara with a 5.0 km challenging walking/jogging trail and Taman Rimba Kiara, right at our doorstep. What I appreciate most is the joy of hiking up Bukit Kiara while enjoying the diverse flora and fauna. It is one of the few remaining green lungs in the city. We should do whatever we can to protect and preserve this hill so that our children and their children will continue to enjoy this green oasis. And so too with our beloved neighbourhood. Let’s not take TTDI for granted. Let’s also do our part to protect and preserve what we have. And say ‘no’ to any new development. My wife and I feel blessed to have lived in TTDI for a significant part of our lives. We have made so many friends that we feel most welcome whenever we move around in this friendly neighbourhood. Indeed I’m proud to be a TTDIan. Dr Pola Singh editorial team masyarakat ttdi is the official Newsletter of For those interested in the advertising space, please contact: Mr. Don Ong @ Tel: 019-272 6336 (normal office hours) for further details. Dr Pola Singh TTDIRA. The Newsletter is published quarterly, being the first three issues in e-version and a printed one towards the Clinton Ang MASYARAKAT TTDI reserved all rights. No part of this publication may end of the year. A print run of 8,000 copies will be be reproduced in any form or by any means without the written consent Don Ong distributed free to all residents of Taman Tun Dr Ismail and of the editorial committee. Saleh Mohammed the immediate surrounding areas, bringing you up-to-date Residents are welcome to submit your views, comments or suggestions Pankajkumar news on the latest issues, going-ons and happenings in on ways to improve the quality of life in Taman Tun Dr Ismail. Please Dr Evelyn Khor your neighbourhood. email to [email protected]. masyarakat 3 ttdi exco 2018 - 2020 Taman Tun Dr Ismail Residents’ Association - Line Up CHAIRMAN EXCO MEMBERS Abdul Hafiz Abu Bakar Adrian Ho Kian Wei VICE CHAIRMAN Azlin Shah Othman Clinton Ang Teck Leong Dr Mohd Akhmal Mohd Yusof SECRETARY Dr Pola Singh Aida Marie Mohamad Alissa Jeyam Raj ASST. SECRETARY Nafisah Mohamat Yusof Khir Koo Zhao Phin Fariza Abdul Jalil TREASURER Ambika Devi M S Nair Saleh Mohammed Pankajkumar Bipinchandra ASST. TREASURER Farhan Abdul Rahman Lim Beng Teik Mohd Ameer Hussain masyarakat 4 ttdi message Ir Dr Kribanandan Gurusamy Naidu President of FOBK, 2018-20 FOBK was set up to garner public support to preserve the sanctity of the Bukit Kiara Green Lung, which was the major portion of the 1534.86 acres of the former rubber estate compulsorily acquired by the Federal Government under the National Land Code (NLC) in 1975 for the main purpose of setting up a Public Park and National Mausoleum. Dear Friends, I am honoured to have be en initiative was the “Green Lung invited to say a few words about Lobby Group” which was active the Friends of Bukit Kiara (FOBK) as early as the 1990’s as part of following my assumption to the the efforts of the Taman Tun Dr. role of the presidency of FOBK. Ismail Residents’ Association. Having lived in TTDI for almost 25 FOBK was set up to garner public years I can unequivocally say that support to preserve the sanctity the move to our leafy TTDI suburb of the Bukit Kiara Green Lung, has been the best thing to have which was the major portion of the 1534.86 happened in our lives. I have spent these acres of the former rubber estate compulsorily important years raising a family, developing acquired by the Federal Government under the friendships and creating a viable business in National Land Code (NLC) in 1975 for the main TTDI all within walking distance to the amazing purpose of setting up a Public Park and National Bukit Kiara Green Lung.