Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) is ramping up tree maintenance throughout the capital after being ordered by the Sessions Court to pay RM824,180 in damages to a couple whose son was killed by a falling tree.
On Tuesday, the court ruled that the tree was under DBKL’s management and the fatal accident occurred due to negligence.
To address safety concerns and mitigate property damage, mayor Datuk Seri Fadlun Mak Ujud said pruning works were being carried out at high-risk locations across Kuala Lumpur’s 11 parliamentary constituencies.
The operations would also be conducted at public parks, children’s playgrounds and open spaces, he said.
“The tree-pruning works are being conducted simultaneously and will continue throughout the year,” he said via a text message to StarMetro.
In a statement, City Hall said the works began on Feb 15 and were expected to be completed by Monday.
“Works are being carried out in phases based on risk assessments to ensure public and traffic safety.
“Those passing through these areas (see graphic), are advised to be cautious and to cooperate with DBKL,” it added.
The stepped-up maintenance comes amid heightened scrutiny over tree safety following the claim filed by Gooi Ling Sim, 61, and Phun Kok Hoi, 63, the dependants of the late Phun Mun Lap, 30.
The victim was riding a motorcycle along Jalan Kuching on March 22, 2023, when he was struck by a falling tree.
He sustained severe injuries and died two days later.
In his grounds of judgment, judge Effandi Nazila Abdullah held that the tree was under DBKL’s care and the incident would not have occurred without negligence in its monitoring and maintenance.
“The defendant also admitted that the tree was excessively large and had not been properly maintained,” the judge said.
The award covered RM26,180 for funeral expenses, RM768,000 for loss of dependency and RM30,000 in bereavement damages.
DBKL is currently appealing the decision at the High Court.
Meanwhile, community activist Yee Poh Ping has called for reforms to DBKL’s approach to tree monitoring and felling.
Speaking at a press conference at a residential park in Taman Batu, Jinjang Selatan, Yee said public funds should not be spent on compensation.
“This money could have been saved if preventive action had been taken,” he said.
“Every year, we see fallen trees causing damage and casualties, yet there is no real improvement.
“DBKL must change its work attitude; it must stop this culture of reacting only after an incident.”
Yee also questioned the efficacy of DBKL’s tagging system, referring to overgrown trees at a park in Jalan G.
He urged officers at every DBKL branch to be more proactive by carrying out regular checks rather than routine tagging.
He noted that the issue was especially pressing in older parts of the city populated by large angsana trees.
“Most of the trees in Kuala Lumpur are angsana trees, planted many decades ago.
“Angsana trees grow quickly and reach great heights, making them more prone to toppling as they age.
“Even without a storm, large branches can break off and cause serious damage,” he said.
Yee said not all households had insurance protection and questioned what recourse residents had when their property was damaged.
He clarified that he was not calling for indiscriminate felling, but the removal of high-risk trees and replacement with more suitable species.
He said that requests were submitted to DBKL in January 2025 for action at four locations – along Jalan 17/42, 19/42 and 25/42 in Taman Kok Doh and Taman Batu.
While 18 trees were felled last December, he said the Jalan G site − which had at least five critically large trees − remained unaddressed despite its proximity to homes.
