The Bukit Sungai Puteh Forest Reserve sits on the outskirts of Kuala Lumpur and spills over to Selangor. It stretches from Hulu Langar to Cheras and was gazetted as a reserve in 1932.

The reserve is one of the closest to the bustling metropolis of KL and has become a go-to spot for avid hikers and nature lovers, both locals and tourists. The forest also shares some ground with the Sungai Puteh Wildlife Reserve, which spans 40 hectares.

Bukit Sungai Puteh Forest Reserve is home to a number of flora and fauna, including some endangered and nearly endangered species. The forest also boasts a couple of hills, Bukit Saga and Bukit Apek, as well as a waterfall called Wow Wow along the two walking trails.

A future in jeopardy

Currently, a plan has been proposed to degazette 29.98 hecares of the reserve to make way for the construction of the Sungai Besi – Ulu Klang Expressway (SUKE). This proposal has been highly controversial, as many citizens feel that the forest reserve should be protected.

According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and certified by the Environmental Impact Assessment, some species of flora and fauna will be further threatened if the proposed plans are carried out.

Examples of the flora and fauna affected by the SUKE project include:

Flora species

• Dipterocarp Shorea Marcoptera – Endangered
• Anisophylleaceae Anisophyllea Apetala – Endangered
• Meliaceae Aglaia Grandis – Almost endangered
• Fagaceae Lithocarpus neorobinsonii – Almost endangered

Fauna species

• Pangolin (Manis javanica) – Endangered
• Lar Gibbon (Hylobates lar) – Endangered
• Lesser Green Leafbird (Chloropsis cyanopogon) – Almost endangered
• Rufous-collared Kingfisher (Actenoides concreta) – Almost endangered

How do I sign the petition?

Fortunately, if you want to speak up and petition the government to stop construction in the area, you can sign the ‘Keep Bukit Sungai Puteh permanent forest reserves intact’ petition at Change.org.