KOTA KINABALU: A decades-old rain tree (Samanea saman) that has withstood fire, disease and past development threats is now set to be felled next week, sparking an outcry among locals.
The tree, fondly known as the “pokok Kasigui”, is believed to be about 80 years old.
It is one of five rain trees in the area that once provided shade for traders, fishermen and villagers at the old Kasigui shoplots.
Despite surviving a fire, believed by some to have been deliberately set decades ago, and bouts of trunk disease, the tree has remained standing, becoming a quiet symbol of resilience.
But a notice dated March 26 from the Penampang Municipal Council announcing plans to cut it down on April 2 has triggered a wave of concern, with many taking to social media to urge the council to reconsider.
In the notice, the council said the tree had been assessed by a registered arborist and deemed to pose a high risk of toppling, potentially endangering public safety and nearby property.
“Thus, the tree will be chopped down as a precautionary measure to ensure public safety,” it said.
However, landscape architect and licensed arborist Eric Yee questioned whether all possible measures to save the tree had been fully explored.
“While the assessment may have identified structural risks, arborists would typically propose multiple options to preserve a tree before recommending removal as a last resort,” he said.
Yee, who has not inspected the tree, said he hoped the council had thoroughly evaluated all alternatives before deciding that felling the tree was the only viable option.
While he acknowledged that safety must come first, he stressed that sustainability and heritage should also be considered.
Others echoed similar sentiments online, recalling how the trees once sheltered village markets and provided a gathering spot where children played beneath their branches.
Some questioned whether development should come at the cost of erasing pieces of local history, while others asked if cutting the tree was simply the easiest solution.
Plans to remove the five rain trees had surfaced before, but were shelved following strong objections from residents and environmentalists.
