KUALA LUMPUR — Friends of Bukit Kiara (FOBK), in collaboration with social enterprise Conscious, has launched the Glow Campaign to mobilise public support for the protection of Bukit Kiara Federal Park, Kuala Lumpur’s only urban green lung of substantial size.
Launched on January 1, 2026, the campaign by the environmental rights NGO calls on Sime Darby Property to pause construction of a proposed condominium development bordering the park and to publicly disclose the project’s environmental impact assessment, citing concerns over potential harm to the adjacent secondary forest.
FOBK programme officer Harleen Rai Kaur said the initiative is aimed at strengthening community stewardship of Bukit Kiara while pressing for greater transparency from the developer.
“Although the development is on private land, its proximity to the forest means there could be serious implications for biodiversity, water catchment functions and the overall health of the ecosystem,” she told Scoop.
Harleen said Bukit Kiara Federal Park, which has been managed by the National Landscape Department since 2010, is home to nine species of fireflies, including the large Lamprigera species, as well as other wildlife such as snakes, frogs and lizards.
She added that the forest plays a crucial role as an urban green lung, supporting climate resilience and serving as an important water source for the Klang Valley.
Conscious founder and chief executive officer Amelia Tan said the Glow Campaign also seeks to appeal to Sime Darby Property to pause the project and disclose its environmental impact.
“Our immediate ask is for the development to stop and for the impact assessment on the forest to be made public,” she said.
Fireflies were chosen as the campaign’s symbol because they are a sensitive indicator of forest health, Amelia explained.
“They are like the frontline soldiers of the forest. If they disappear, it signals that something is wrong,” she said.
Beyond the immediate development issue, the Glow Campaign aims to build a widely felt sense of identity and ownership around Bukit Kiara, positioning the community as a bulwark against unwanted and unsustainable development.
“We want this conversation to go beyond Bukit Kiara and strengthen public resolve to protect urban forests nationwide,” Amelia added. — Jan 18, 2026
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