Christine (left) with fellow residents staging a peaceful protest next to stumps of trees cut down in USJ 2, Subang Jaya. — IZZRAFIQ ALIAS/The Star
RESIDENTS of USJ 2, Subang Jaya in Selangor are shocked that 35 trees in their area have been felled by Subang Jaya City Council (MBSJ) contractors.
Some of the trees had stood at 10m tall.
The trees were located along Jalan USJ 2/2H, 2L and 2R, surrounding a hill on USJ 2.
Several unhappy residents staged a protest and carried placards, urging MBSJ to replant the same number of trees cut.
Wildlife conservation artist and resident Christine Das said she had been away when the trees across her home were felled.
“On seeing the stumps, I was appalled.
“If the trees were deemed too tall, trimming them should have sufficed.
“I describe this as a tree massacre,” she said.
The residents demanded MBSJ replant the same number of trees that were cut down.
“They included fruiting fig and acacia trees.
“Cutting down the trees has driven away certain bird species,” Christine said.
She noted the types of chirps that used to drift down the hill had been markedly reduced.
Christine, an avid birdwatcher, had photographed 35 bird species on the hill.
“Birds seen at the hill were asian koel (eudynamys scolopaceus), brahminy kite (haliastur indus), crested goshawk (lophospiza trivirgata), magpie robins (shamas), black-naped oriole (oriolus chinensis) and blue-throated bee-eater (merops viridis) among the many that include migratory birds,” she said.
Resident Wong San said the green foliage was much needed as USJ 2 was bordered by Shah Alam Expressway (Kesas), Persiaran Tujuan, Persiaran Murni and Persiaran Kewajipan.
All these roads see heavy traffic on a daily basis.
He added that the city council’s contractors could have just lopped off branches above a certain height so that the canopy was not too tall.
“We want MBSJ to practise better tree management.
“The presence of mature trees helps the immediate environment as it allows rainwater to slowly cascade off the tree canopy until it reaches the park floor.
“Trees are indispensable and the council needs to keep them,” he said.
Pioneer resident P. Nathan said the fig trees provided good shade.
“Most seniors who took walks in the area enjoyed the cooler atmosphere.
“People liked to walk up the hill to enjoy the ambience at the gazebo,” he said.
“Now, it is hotter in the late mornings and afternoons.”
Another resident, Mah Ah Seong, said cutting down the trees had deprived residents of better air quality.
“We want a natural environment and less concrete,” he said.
MBSJ corporate and strategic management department director Muhammad Azli Miswan said the council had plans to upgrade the USJ 2 park on the hill with a walkway.
“MBSJ will issue an official statement on the upgrade once the dates are firmed up.
“Residents will be informed and can give constructive suggestions for considerations,” he added.
