Have you noticed the changes in our city recently?
On May 25, Aidil Iman Aidid, the advocacy director of Kolektif Iklim, posted on Instagram and a 10-image Twitter thread, saying that KL is no longer livable. Here are the points he shared to support his claim:
1. Floods
As of May, people have already suffered from three floods on 7 March, 25 April and 25 May respectively. However, he mentioned that ‘no sense of urgency or a declaration of a Climate Emergency have been announced’.
2. The worsened traffic
Are you experiencing traffic jams more frequently these days? According to Aidil, traffic data has shown that KL’s traffic congestion was worse than in the pre-pandemic days. Especially with more people returning to work or school physically, the number of cars on the road has increased.
3. Inconvenient public transport in Klang Valley
The poor public transport system is an issue as Klang Valley was designed for private vehicles. In addition to that, problems such as LRT disruptions and crowdedness are occurring more often.
Deforestation, PPR flats with little access to outdoor views, and the government’s plan on building new highways are also reasons why Aidil thought KL is not a livable city. ‘A city that provides inclusive opportunities for all residents access to green spaces, abundance of public spaces, efficient public transportation systems and healthcare availability are hallmarks of a healthy, livable city,’ he said.
To encounter floods, Malaysia needs sponge cities, which are areas with plenty of natural lands such as lakes, parks and trees. Wetland systems are required to retain rainwater while lush vegetations are needed for rainwater to flow naturally. ‘We need nature-based solutions, not concrete, grey answers,’ Aidil concluded.
Here is Aidil’s Instagram post and Twitter thread:
View this post on Instagram
Kuala Lumpur is not a liveable city.
The poor design, planning and land use of our city drowns its people in floods and traps them in traffic congestions. This needs to change. Kuala Lumpur must be a safe, sustainable and resilient city. (1/3) pic.twitter.com/gdHbU3mrvY
— freyr (@notsoaidil) May 25, 2022
