The Bunus River Urban Garden: A Garden in The Heart Of Kuala Lumpur

Kebun Bandar Sungai Bunus (KBSB), or the Bunus River Urban Garden, is located along the Bunus River in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. KBSB is one of 40 Kuala Lumpur Neighbourhood Gardens of the Local Agenda 21 Kuala Lumpur Unit (LA21) of the Kuala Lumpur City Hall.  Developed in 2014, the garden has ten stakeholders and its objectives are to encourage agricultural activities; to produce various types of crops; to acquire knowledge and skills about plants; to promote a healthy lifestyle; to inculcate reading habits; and to increase cooperation among all parties involved. Showcasing herbs, vegetables, fruits, flowers and local dishes, the organised activities contained elements of education, brotherhood, leisure, cooperation.

It was agreed that the ten stakeholders of KBSB would take turns to organise a monthly programme. For the second time in a row, KBSB organised Di Ambang Sore 2024 @ KBSB, a programme to welcome 2024 on 31 December 2023. This program was hosted by Tokwan Nasi Bendang. As before, the participants, including 15 orphans from Anak-anak Yatim dan Asnaf Al Inayah from Mantin, spent the night in tents set up within KBSB.

The programme began with a “Meet and Greet – District Entrepreneurship 1.0” session and this included aerobics, potluck picnic and site preparation. For the Meet and Greet session, it consists of activities such as Think Quran, Daily Cash Projects, lucky draw and exchange of gifts amongst participants. As an entrepreneurial activity, participants were also involved in selling their products. The programme was inaugurated by the KBSB Advisor Tuan Haji Ahmad Shamsul Baharin bin Mohd Hanafiah who also shared the success of KBSB and how his family became successful entrepreneurs. A sugarcane squeezing activity was conducted using a sugarcane machine owned by KBSB whilst the sugarcanes were harvested from the plot at KBSB owned by Tokwan Nasi Bendang. Participants enjoyed the sweetness of the sugarcane drinks produced from the soil of KBSB itself. Throughout the day, participants tended to the plots at KBSB.

Using Retro as the theme, the night began with prayers to welcome the new year, followed by a barbeque dinner prepared by two chefs who are also stakeholders of KBSB. More than 60 KBSB members with their family gathered to usher in 2024 whilst eating food and listening to retro music. The highlight of the night was the fireworks and the beauty of Kuala Lumpur at night can be clearly seen from KBSB.

The stakeholders of KBSB have shown the effectiveness of an urban garden in bringing people together. They have organised programmes throughout the year and each event is closely linked to gardening and the products that can be harvested from the garden. Several stakeholders have become successful entrepreneurs through the sale of products from their plots at KBSB. The success of this urban garden in the heart of Kuala Lumpur can be attributed to the camaraderie that exists among the stakeholders, their family, and friends. KBSB has received many visitors since its establishment and it is evident that it has fulfilled a number of United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), with particular relevance to SDG 1 (No poverty), 2 (Zero hunger), 3 (Good Health and Well-being), 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), 15 (Life on Land), and 17 (Partnership for the Goals).

Contributed by Hasnita Ibrahim, Secretary, Bunus River Urban Garden Association