The hill is calling and I must go...

Bukit Dinding constitutes a significant ecological asset within Kuala Lumpur, serving as one of Kuala Lumpur's last remaining green lungs. Encompassing more than 300 acres of green, this area comprises a thriving secondary forest that has naturally regenerated within the confines of a former abandoned rubber estate. Official government documents lists Bukit Dinding's height as 291 meters, although, various reliable sources indicate that the hill's elevation surpasses 310 meters.

Bukit Dinding today is a hub for outdoor enthusiasts, attracting hikers, joggers, and cyclists who relish its challenging terrain. The tarmac road constructed for a telecommunications tower at its peak now serves as the main walking trail. There are trail networks by both mountain bikers and hikers. 

This natural space hosts popular annual events, including the thrilling Bukit Dinding Downhill (BDDH) Race i.e. a renowned local downhill mountain biking race event and the Bukit Dinding Challenge (BDC) with its grueling 6 & 12-hour endurance running event!

As you explore Bukit Dinding, observe the pressing environmental concerns, including landslides, climate change, and the imperative need for public green space. Overpopulation challenges stemming from rapid urban development and the inadequacy of green spaces highlight the need for comprehensive solutions. 

Our journey in studying the case of Bukit Dinding also unveils governance issues related to the Federal Territory policies on land use, zoning, slope hazards and the maintenance of this precious ecosystem.

Bukit Dinding was initially a tin mining region prior to the transition to rubber cultivation. This shift occurred in areas where the undulating topography posed limitations on the accessibility of mining activities. 

In 1870, the area around Bukit Dinding witnessed a lengthy battle during the Kelang War/Selangor Civil War.  The struggle for the rights to mine and trade tin ore led to the outbreak of a civil war among the Royal Family of Selangor, taking place at Bukit Dinding. The British successfully intervened and established administrative control over the Selangor government in 1874. 

In 1890s, British carried out survey works at Hawthornden Estate for the purpose of mapping and issuing grants for these estates, completed only after 2 years. The delayed completion was due to the difficulty in accessing the dense forest area around Bukit Dinding. 

In 1964,  'The Seventh Dawn' a technicolor drama film was released. It was directed by Lewis Gilbert and starring William Holden, Capucine and Tetsurō Tamba. The film, set during the Malayan Emergency, is based on the 1960 novel The Durian Tree by Michael Keon and was filmed around Bukit Dinding.

In 1968, a classical Malay comedy titled "Anak Bapak" starred by P. Ramlee had featured the Hawthornden Estate of Bukit Dinding.  It tells the story of Harun, a plantation manager who enjoys extravagance to the extent that it leads him into significant debt. 

Bukit Dinding, Kuala Lumpur, has fascinating geological features known as the Dinding Schist, a name uniquely derived from the hill itself.  Picture it as a rock formation that dates back to a really ancient time, around 400-500 million years ago i.e. the Cambrian to Ordovician period. Bukit Dinding stands amongst the few oldest rock formation of West Malaysia.

The special rock types found in Bukit Dinding are called schist and quartzite, and they stack up to a thickness of about 3400 meters. Think of schist as a type of layered rock with very old metamorphic and metavolcanic features. Interestingly,  research has confirmed the presence of an ancient volcano, as indicated by the Gerik-Dinding metavolcanic rocks. This geological environment is thought to have been like a deep-sea trench a very long time ago. No fossils have been recovered due to lack of studies, yet the geological features interests academics to search more on its history and transformations. 

Bukit Dinding is listed under the Environmentally Sensitive Area (ESA) map in the gazetted Kuala Lumpur City Plan 2020. The elevations of the remaining undeveloped areas are mostly with steep slopes; High & Extreme Geotechnical Constraints. The terrains feature steep slopes beyond 25-35 degrees, high elevations, and rugged landforms. It can be difficult to navigate and may have unique ecological and geological features. 

The Dinding Schist, a metavolcanic and metamorphic rock formed through the fusion of various rocks under intense heat and pressure, is prone to weathering by groundwater. Weathering continues as a result of the terracing of rubber trees, exposing the bedrock to environmental conditions. This natural process results in the formation of springs and waterfalls on Bukit Dinding.  

Ancient lineaments and faults were present on the hill range, serving as a watershed for two rivers in Kuala Lumpur, namely the Gombak River and the Klang River, as documented by Bishop (1974). Approximately 14% of the water catchment area for the Gombak River is constituted by the Dinding-Hawthorden schist hill.

Groundwater was captured and stored in these ancient intersection lineaments, subsequently being conveyed downhill through linear lineaments to the rivers and faults in the surrounding area.

The catchment area is characterized by two faults and is accompanied by hot springs near these faults, namely the Setapak Hot Spring and the Wangsa Maju Hot Springs.