KUALA LUMPUR – Volunteers of the Taman Tun Dr Ismail (TTDI) Edible Garden have defended the community initiative amid residents’ concerns over traffic congestion, additional structures and alleged commercial activities at the site.
The concerns reportedly centre on whether the garden’s weekend market and drinks station have contributed to congestion in the surrounding neighbourhood, as well as whether structures erected on the land have obtained the necessary approvals from Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL).
Cher Seng Yam, a coordinator of the organisation, said the project was established in 2017 under the Transition TTDI initiative to encourage urban greening, sustainable food practices and greater community participation.
She said the land had previously been abandoned and used as a dumping ground before DBKL, through its Local Agenda 21 (LA21) programme, facilitated its clearance for community gardening.
“It took us almost nine years to get the water and electricity connected and to develop the garden into what it is today,” she told Scoop.
Yam said the garden was managed by seven senior volunteers and operated on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, from 9.30am to noon, with activities on Saturdays drawing the largest number of visitors.
Beyond growing vegetables, she said, the garden served as an educational space where residents could learn about sustainable food production and environmentally responsible practices.
Addressing concerns over a proposed cafe, Yam clarified that the facility was currently a drinks station providing refreshments to volunteers and visitors, rather than a commercial food and beverage outlet.
“There is no drawcard or intention to open a cafe or restaurant. It is simply a drink station where we offer coffee and other refreshments to people who come here,” she said.
She added that a local farmer who owns a company known as Forus Malaysia also helped sell produce at the garden, alongside products sourced from small Malaysian farmers, as part of efforts to support local food producers.
“If we want to operate a commercial cafe, we would need to get approval from DBKL. We are not doing that at the moment,” she added.
Yam said the additional shelters and storage facilities were built to protect gardening equipment and provide space for workshops and other community activities, not to accommodate restaurant operations.
She stressed that the garden was not run for private profit, with proceeds from the sale of produce, compost and community activities reinvested into its upkeep.
“We are doing this for the community. Everything we earn goes back into the garden, and we have to find our own funds to sustain it,” she said.
Yam added that the organisation had submitted reports to DBKL under the LA21 programme, outlining its activities, produce and financial management.
On complaints about traffic, she disputed claims that the garden was responsible for persistent congestion in the neighbourhood, saying most visitors spent about 15 minutes at the site, while Saturday market activities typically lasted around two hours.
She urged residents to provide specific evidence of the alleged disruption so the organisers could better identify the issues and work towards addressing them.
Yam also said an alternative access point had been proposed following discussions involving the office of Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Federal Territories) Hannah Yeoh, which could help improve traffic flow into and out of the garden.
Meanwhile, the organisation’s secretary, Kernail Singh, said it had about 424 members, most of whom lived in the surrounding neighbourhood.
He said the garden’s activities extended beyond cultivation, with programmes designed to promote environmental awareness, mental well-being and food security.
These included composting, regenerative agriculture and microgreens cultivation, as well as initiatives involving rehabilitation groups and people with special needs.
Singh said the garden provided an opportunity for people from different backgrounds to take part in meaningful outdoor activities, while helping residents understand the origins of their food and the importance of producing it sustainably.
On the additional structures, he said they were removable and necessary for conducting courses and workshops, as well as storing gardening equipment.
He acknowledged that although DBKL had issued a letter permitting community gardening activities under the LA21 programme, the organisers had separately raised the issue of the additional structures with the authorities and were seeking approval to retain them.
Singh said the organisation was prepared to submit further documentation and comply with DBKL’s requirements.
The organisers said they hoped to resolve the concerns through engagement with residents and the relevant authorities, stressing that disagreements should not undermine a community initiative that had taken years to establish. – November 12, 2026