Community with own orchard in U5 Shah Alam

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THE foul-smelling abandoned water retention pond that used to be the bane of their lives is no more.

In its place is a community orchard that gives joy to residents of Taman Subang Puteri in U5 Shah Alam.

The pilot project, which is being implemented by the Shah Alam City Council (MBSA) is being carried out in stages. If successful, it will be extended to other areas.

The first phase, which includes the planting of about 70 trees was carried out on Sunday. More than 50 residents turned up with their family members for the tree-planting event.

Also present at the event were the Taman Puteri Subang Residents Association chairman Mohd Khairy Buyong, MBSA Parks and Recreation director Mohd Tahir Man and MBSA councillor A. Sivarajan.

The official launching of the orchard project is expected to be carried out at the end of the month.

Upon completion, the area will have a jogging track and recreational facilities.

“I never thought that I’d have an orchard in front of my house.

“We did hope for a nice scenery or greenery to replace the mosquito-infested swamp.

“This is a dream come true,” said Mohd Fathi Ismail, one of the residents.

On Sunday morning, Fathi joined his neighbours to plant various fruit trees on the vacant land.

He was joined by his mother and three daughters aged between six and three years.

Mohd Fathi was given a bidara tree or scientifically known as Ziziphus mauritiana, a tree that used to grow in the forest and known for its traditional medicinal values including to stop diarrhoea. Its sweet-and-sour fruits can sometimes be found at the market.

“I have read about the tree in books and even in our pantun, but have never seen it myself.

“Now, my children will be able to know how it looks like,” he said.

In addition to the bidara tree, the orchard also has fruit trees such as rambutan, durian, palmelo, lime, limau purut, ciku, kedondong, delima (pomegranate), dokong, mangosteen, jambu air and soursop.

Some of the species are those that are hard to find in the market such as nam-nam, yellow rambutan, cermai and asam kandis (asam keping).

About 200 plants of various species including fruit, shady and forest trees will be planted in the area.

All trees are labelled to educate the residents, especially the children in identifying the type of trees.

“Now I can do a bit of gardening in addition to walking around the orchard,” said resident Fong Chee Yee, who retired about four years ago.

“My wife and I are born and bred in the city, so it’s a real treat to have an orchard in front of our house,” he said.

Like most of the residents in the neighbourhood, Fong and his wife Susan have pledged to help care for the trees.

They even took family photos with the ciku tree that they had planted on the day.

“We want to see how well it grows in years to come,” he said.

Meanwhile, Tahir said the selection of the trees to be planted were done after considering the condition of the soil and location.

Residents can also grow vegetables for their own consumption in the area.

“We hope this orchard will bring the community together since they have the ownership of the place and have to take care of it,’’ he said.

He added that although the city council would provide the basic maintenance for the orchard, the community would have to do their part in taking care of the trees.

He said the city council and the Agriculture Department would help with expert advice and equipment to ensure that the project was a success.

Arrangements are being made to hire a full-time caretaker of the orchard.