LETTER | Selangor govt's Horticultural Centre vision needs a political will

LETTER | Whenever the issue and problems of the horticultural nurseries in Green Lane Sungai Buloh, which have been affected by the Damansara–Shah Alam Elevated Expressway (DASH) as well as road widening projects for the new township of Kwasa Damansara, are brought up the Selangor government's response and its excuse is that it has a long-term vision to re-locate all the nurseries in the entire Sg Buloh area, including those nurseries in Kg Melayu and Jalan Hospital, in one central venue for the proper growth and progress of the horticultural industry.

However, many years have passed since the promises were made and despite changes in administration, to date, nothing tangible has materialised. The nursery owners and operators, who were brought in by the Selangor Agricultural Development Corporation in 1999, continue to hope and look forward to the day this grand plan of the state government will be realised. 

Many of the nursery operators have closed shop and many more are facing an uncertain future. And, with roadworks going all around the place, businesses have stagnated as no new investments have been made. The issue of re-location continues to be delayed or dragged on indefinitely and the patience of the nursery operators is wearing off. 

The longer the Selangor government hesitates to act, the more the horticultural industry will suffer and it could slowly die off - and the Covid 19 pandemic could hasten the process. As if all these problems are not enough, the contractor for the DASH highway project - Prolintas - has not taken serious steps to settle the ex-gratia payment promised to about 20 nurseries to expedite and facilitate the vacating of the nurseries. 

More than two years have passed and most of the vacated sites are unused and are now dumping grounds for all kinds of trash. The nursery operators were ordered to urgently vacate the area without any re-location plans or feeling or sympathy for the loss of livelihood or the resulting plight of the affected.

It is really shocking that not one of the elected people's representatives has taken up the cause seriously in the State Legislative Assembly or in Parliament to help the nursery operators, who sustain a vital industry that is now part and parcel of the re-greening and rehabilitation of the country, especially the urban landscape. 

Former menteri besar Khalid Ibrahim’s undertaking…

Former  Selangor menteri besar Khalid Ibrahim had given an undertaking, via a letter to the nursery owners and operators as well as the to the Land and Mines Department of Selangor that all the horticultural nurseries would be re-sited in the Rubber Research Institute (RRI) land - now  Kwasa Damansara and Malaysian Rubber Board (MRB ) land - when the RRI is developed. 

This promise of the former menteri besar has the legal force of promissory estoppel and should be adhered to. However, subsequent administrations have feigned ignorance about this condition, and so have Kwasa Damansara and the MRB. 

The state government has the sole jurisdiction over planning and layout for Kwasa Damansara and it is not difficult to fulfil the condition to include the nurseries. If it is not possible to re-locate the nurseries in Kwasa Damansara, where land is too costly,  then it is incumbent on the state government to source for alternative land and it should be done quickly. 

Grouping all the nurseries in one centre will bring about orderly and tremendous growth and will also aid in the development of the surrounding areas due to spillover effects. 

The horticultural centre could become a tourist venue and attraction as the diversities of local plants, flowers, trees and other related items are vast and the expertise and craft of the Sg Buloh nursery operators, especially in landscaping, rock gardens and water fountains, are well known.

All these will go to waste if the industry is fragmented over many locations and does not receive government assistance in the setting up of the horticultural centre.

It is hoped that the problems associated with the nurseries will be resolved soon and that the issue will be brought up during the current ongoing session of the Selangor State Legislative Assembly by sympathetic and concerned state representatives.

Only political will on the part of the state government will ensure that the proposed horticultural centre will take shape. It is no point in having a vision when there is no sincere or serious mission to realise the plans.

The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.