Trees along Jalan Ara in Bangsar have been poorly maintained and are leaning, putting the public at risk of falling branches.— Filepic
A PROMINENT activist is calling on local authorities to step up maintenance of trees in the Klang Valley to ensure their longevity as well as public safety.
Alliance for Safe Community founder and chairman Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye said there was growing concern for trees being cut down in urban areas.
He cited the trees along Jalan Maarof in Bangsar, as well as Jalan Mahkota and Jalan Jejaka in Cheras, as recent examples.
“The local authority says the trees need to be cut down to prevent accidents during thunderstorms.
“However, the felling of these trees would not have been needed if there had been proper maintenance and inspection,” he told StarMetro.
The authorities, said Lee, must conduct regular inspections to identify tree branches that were at risk of falling.
“They could prune these branches without cutting the trees,” he said, adding there was also a need to replace trees that were cut down.
He reminded the government of its pledge to plant 100 million trees by 2050 in an effort to achieve carbon neutrality.
“Trees are important to provide a cooling effect especially in urban areas where the impact of global warming is most felt.”
On concerns that the local authorities might face constraints such as lack of resources and manpower, Lee said the Federal Government should allocate more funds for this.
He also urged the local authorities to work with the relevant government agencies to identify suitable tree species to be planted.
In December 2021, then Deputy Federal Territories Minister Datuk Seri Jalaluddin Alias, in a parliamentary reply, said some 8,700 trees were felled by Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) following safety issues and complaints by residents.
