Residents: Trees to be felled are healthy

Some of the trees along Jalan Loh Poh Heng in Tanjung Bungah,

AN arborist report on the need to cut down 21 trees and relocate one along Jalan Loh Poh Heng in Tanjung Bungah for road-widening purposes did not go down well with a group of residents.

They were outraged that they were kept in the dark about the project by the Penang Island City Council (MBPP).

Tanjung Bungah Residents’ Association chairman Meenakshi Raman said a circular issued by the council on Sunday indicated that the directive to cut and relocate the trees was done as a precondition imposed by the Public Works Department before a nearby development could commence.

She also said the association members have identified trees along the road.

They include mahogany, raintree, flame of the forest and royal palms, all aged between 10 and 40, she added.

“Contrary to the arborist’s report, there are no signs of sickness, parasitism, growing wild or excessive leaning.

“Most of the trees are flourishing, supporting their microsystem and planted in an orderly manner,” she said during a press conference yesterday.

Meenakshi also expressed the need for a new arborist report and urged for an alternative solution to mitigate traffic.

Later, a group of 25 residents and association members hugged one of the trees near the Tiara View condominium while holding banners stating their objection.

Tanjung Bungah resident Dr Kam Suan Pheng questioned the need to widen the road as it is not connected to main roads such as Jalan Lembah Permai or Jalan Tanjung Bungah.

Consumers Association of Penang secretary Martin Khor said there was a lack of appreciation for the function of trees which include flood prevention.

They urged state leaders to halt the plan, namely Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow, MBPP mayor Yew Tung Seang, Tanjung Bungah assemblyman Zairil Khir Johari and Bukit Bendera MP Wong Hon Wai.

Zairil said the traffic woes were one of the main problems that residents wanted to be solved.

“Hence, everyone agreed to the widening of Jalan Loh Poh Heng,” he said.

On claims of healthy trees being cut down, Zairil said the residents would have to ask MBPP as they have arborists and experts.

It was reported on Monday that Tanjung Bungah residents were furious about the cutting down of five large trees that once shaded the parking lot of their market.

The trees, believed to be 30 to 50 years old, were felled by a developer with permission from MBPP.

Meanwhile, Penang Citizen Awareness Chant Group (Chant), on its Facebook page yesterday shared photos showing people, believed to be MBPP personnel tagging palm trees in Lebuhraya Peel.

“Are there plans to remove the trees on this protocol road? Have a public consultation on this project. Many rakyat affected,” the caption said.