1.1 
INTRODUCTION
INTRODUCTION
In 1888, a first
recreational area was created in Kuala Lumpur as a place for the British residents.
Now, after more than 120 years this lake area still exists. Reintroducing the
Sydney Lake Garden as the historical park is not about enhancing the colonial
heritage but more on the history that this area once had. With the used of
Greater Kuala Lumpur/Klang Valley (GKL/KV) as one of the main references, this
paper will try to relate it on reviving this recreational area as one of new
tourist attraction of Kuala Lumpur, the Sydney Lake Historical Park.
The idea of the
establishment of a recreational area in Kuala Lumpur started when Frank
Athelstane Swettenham appointed as the Selangor Residents in 1882. During his
early administration, he realized “the new capital city [Kuala Lumpur] was in
urgent need of a facelift” (Sardar, 2000, p. 67). Swettenham’s vision started
with the refurbishment of the old town area. Sharing the same views was Alfred
Reid Venning, the Selangor State Treasurer. If Swettenham was concentrating
more on the city redevelopment, A. R. Venning is more interested in creating a new
recreational area for the Kuala Lumpur residents (Aziz, 2007). During the era,
‘Padang’ (now known as Dataran Kuala Lumpur or Merdeka Square) was the only
“main center of European communal activity” (Gullick, 1998, p. 50). Thus, a new
recreational area is urgently needed at that time. With the support gathered
from Swettenham, A. R. Venning took the first step in searching a suitable area
that could cater the needs of the Kuala Lumpur’s residents especially the
British and European communities. An appropriate site identified at the edge of
the city, near the 15th mile of the old Damansara Road. This area is consists
of “a clear stream (Sungei Bras Bras) crossed the road after meandering through
a valley that consisted of several acres of swamp” (Selangor Journal, II. p. 9,
22 September 1893, written by A. R. Venning) in (Gullick, 2007, p. 9). Filled
with “briars and lalang, forest trees, screw pines and tree ferns” this area
were “interspersed in picturesque confusion” (Gullick, 2007, p. 9). In 1888, the
creation of a new lake garden began (Fig. 1). A year later, in 1889, the area
which previously overgrown with wild bushes has changed to the “finest amenity”
for the use of the people of Kuala Lumpur (Gullick, 1998, p. 24). On May 13,
1889, this Lake was formally open to the Kuala Lumpur’s colonial elite by the
Governor of the Straits Settlements, Sir Cecil Clementi Smith (Fatt, 2011, p.
165; The Kuala Lumpur Municipal Council, 1959, p. 17). Named after Mrs.
Swettenham, Sydney, this area quickly became famous among the residents. This
unique space that covered with greenery and flowering plants species is also
enlivened with music played by the Police Band (Fatt, 2011, p. 165). The
characteristic adds to the uniqueness of Sydney Lake to the residents of Kuala
Lumpur.
The Lake Gardens is located along Jalan Lembah and has
two manmade lakes and other parks which attract throngs of visitors. The Lake
Garden's opening in May 1975 was officiated by the second Prime Minister of
Malaysia, Tun Haji Abdul Razak Hussein. Extending over 92 hectares of land, the
Lake Gardens houses various parks and gardens. As of today, there are five
other gardens and parks which are open to the public daily. They include the
Orchid Garden which is filled with over 800 species of orchids. At the Orchid
Garden, visitors may take as many pictures as they like and they can even buy a
few pots of orchid home. The other garden is the Hibiscus Garden where our
national flower grows in abundance.
Next is the famous Kuala Lumpur Bird Park, the home of
more than 3000 birds from 200 species. The other two remaining parks are the
Butterfly Park Kuala Lumpur and the Deer Park Kuala Lumpur. In the Butterfly
Park, you can find over 6000 butterflies from more than 120 different species.
The Deer Park also has several species of deer for visitors to see and feed.
The National Monument Kuala Lumpur is just opposite the Lake Gardens. Take the
chance to have a look and stroll around this historical site of Malaysia. The
Lake Gardens is an awfully huge place that may leave you with aching feet if
you try to walk the whole place.
2.1 INTRODUCTION
The
Perdana Botanical Garden formerly known as Lake Gardens is not a striking area
in Kuala Lumpur. This park was managed by Landscape and Recreation Department
under of the City Hall of Kuala Lumpur (DBKL). What is interesting in the area
of park is filled with other attractions that are ideal for family trips like
Bird Park, Butterfly Garden, Orchid Garden, National Planetarium, Royal
Malaysian Police Museum, Museum of Islamic Art, Tun Razak Memorial and many
more. Tan Sri Ahmad Fuad Ismail said that the making of Lake Gardens into a
botanical garden will go down in the history of Kuala Lumpur as the historic
green lung begins its revival yet again. With the completion of the first
phase, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak will officially launch the newly
rehabilitated garden today. Based on DBKL website state that, Kuala Lumpur
which was once a very simple town turned into the nation’s Capital City and
biggest city in Malaysia. That city has become the centre for many
socio-economic various activities including business, administration,
education, finance, religion, culture and sports. Kuala Lumpur
On
Sept 30, 2009, DBKL was informed that the cabinet had given approval for Taman
Tasik Perdana to be developed into a world class botanical garden. On Feb 10
last year, the cabinet agreed with the concept and design proposed for the
Botanical Garden. The development, however, was to maintain the existing
vegetation as heritage trees and include myriad collection of trees and plants
with aesthetic value and for study and research. DBKL recognise the potential
of that park as an integral part of our national heritage. One of the element
that remain at Kuala Lumpur Botanical Garden is herbarium. Herbarium is a
collection of dried plants that are stored in the cabinet and curated for long
term study. Herbarium Kuala Lumpur Botanical Garden was officiated and fully
opened by Deputy Director of Landscape and Recreation Department of the City
Hall of Kuala Lumpur.
According
Hidayah Hairom 2014, DBKL has given serious attention to ensuring the Perdana
Botanical Garden can complement the capital’s tourism package. On that time,
Kuala Lumpur Mayor, Datuk Phesal Talib said his side was confident that the
advantages available, including its greenery, would provide an exciting
experience for foreign tourists. He said it included the construction of a
canoe house and a canopy structure project that would become a new icon for the
Botanical Garden, thus becoming Kuala Lumpur’s own identity.
2.3.1
Landscape and Recreation Department Development
The
park is under of Landscape and Recreation Department Development. This
department is responsible for providing recreational facilities for city
dwellers and plays an important role in ensuring the beautification of the city
ongoing towards achieving our vision of making Kuala Lumpur a World Class
Sustainable Tropical City by 2020. This is show with the vision and mission of
the Department of Landscaping and Recreation Development to make Kuala Lumpur a
city in the Park, beautification work is continuous together with upgrading of
recreational and leisure facilities for all age groups and disabled.
In
addition, beautification programs and maintenance of park and landscaping areas
must continue to run smoothly and from year to year, and in order to provide
comfort and tranquillity all city dweller as well as visitors from outstation,
new parks will be opened. DBKL also must ensure cleaning fallen trees and
branches under maintenance of them are made within 24 hours of receiving the
information from public or their own staff.
2.3.1
Human Resource Management Department
Human
Resource Management Department (JPSM) was establishment in 1970. The functions
of JPSM had implemented the work force planning, staff appointments and
placements, performance development, service and many more. Therefore, JPSM
carries a huge responsibility to equip DBKL with employees who are competent as
to ensure that DBKL’s vision and mission are achieved. Based on our observations, there are DBKL
staff representatives who will plan and make improvements if there are any
problems in public parks such as Kuala Lumpur Botanical Garden. They will
ensure damage repair work on the playground the children be taken within thirty
(30) working days from receipt of complaints and also from regular inspections
on site.
When
visiting the Botanical Garden, we found the playground for the children being
maintenance. This may be due to any damage of the playground so that, they do
not allow the visitors to pass through the area. DBKL always ensures that the
landscape and recreation department provides adequate facilities and excitement
activities or recreation events in public park at least 10 events per month for
visitors. Besides, DBKL also must ensure
that the area of public areas such Kuala Lumpur Botanical Garden are always
clean, beautiful and safe to the public. Other than that, DBKL has many staff
responsible for managing the public park. Each department below them consists
of staff who work efficiently and always be friendly. During our survey up to
the park, there were several workers in the park were entertaining visitors
with great hospitality. Not only that, they also provide the mini bus or
Shuttle Tram service to bring visitors around to see the beauty of the
Botanical Garden.
INTRODUCTION
Various program and activities can be found in Taman
Botani Perdana as it is a large recreational area that can acquire huge number
of visitor from around the area at a time . For example ; wedding, camping,
exhibition , wedding , cycling , jogging , boat ride and more . There are so
many visitor that comes from different background of race , hobby ,gender and
age . All of the man-made elements that were provided on each spaces of the
park like seating area , cycling track , pathway, amphitheatre , gazebos , play
equipment and many more were well used by the visitor . Everyday, it will be
visited by healthy habits visitor that foremost come to the park to do leisure
activity for their own health benefits . But , some special day like on weekend
, some people are coming for the event or even picnicking with the family . The
park is open to all , anybody who want to come to recreation then can
fearlessly come and to whom want to use the space for program and would like to
use the amenities that were provided the got to deal with the office for the
permission
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