The trees along Jalan Prof Diraja Ungku Aziz provide much needed shade but road users say the branches require trimming. — Photos: SAMUEL ONG/The Star
MOTORISTS using Jalan Prof Diraja Ungku Aziz are being “showered” with twigs, and they say this could be a safety hazard.
Dental technician Leonard Chong said the twigs and small branches had fallen on his car numerous times, and each incident startled him.
“The incidents took place in the afternoons and the weather was fine. But it was windy,” he added.
Chong said the local council should prune the trees as a safety measure, as the falling twigs and branches could damage vehicles and cause accidents.
Medical houseman Marianee Abdullah said startled drivers sometimes ended up swerving their vehicles to avoid branches and twigs suddenly falling down on them.
She urged Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) to check on the health of trees along the road, which was formerly known as Jalan Universiti.
This main artery in Petaling Jaya has many shady trees lining the road.
Motorists Hafiz Abdul Hamid (left) and Jumaat Abdul Hamid with some of the twigs that had fallen on the road.
Marianee said the trees should be checked for signs of rotting, insect infestation or root disease.
“It would be better to prune the branches as an immediate solution,” she added.
Pedestrian CL Lam said he had noticed twigs and small branches dropping from the trees as he waited on the road median to cross to UM Specialist Centre.
He also hoped MBPJ would check on the trees.
“Prompt action is needed to protect pedestrians and motorists.
“With recent evening thunderstorms coupled with strong winds, there is an urgent need to get an arborist to assess the trees’ health to prevent any risk to road users,” added Lam, a pensioner.
MBPJ Landscape Department director Dr Badrulzaman Jaafar said the city council was aware of the problem and would conduct an immediate assessment of the trees.
MBPJ councillor Kusaaliny Mahendran told StarMetro that the city had allocated RM1mil to maintain trees under the Bukit Gasing constituency.
She said if there was a need for the trees to be trimmed or pruned, it would be done with the advice of MBPJ’s Landscape Department.
