An exotic RM180,000 Brazilian tree, which attracted controversy due to its price tag, has died five months after it was first planted at Bandar Baharu Kuala Nerus in Terengganu early this year. State Infrastructure and Public Utilities, Energy and Green Technology committee chairman Rosli Othman said the state government has no plans to replace the silk-floss tree that was specially brought in from Brazil, as it was contributed by the township's project contractor. The Ceiba Chodatii tree which has a bottle-shaped trunk could have died due to weather and soil incompatibility, he explained. Although both Brazil and Malaysia have tropical climates, there are still differences in the weather which can affect the survival of the plant here, he added. Early this year, critics had alleged that the tree was wasteful and attacked the state government and Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Ahmad Razif Abd Rahman on social media. It was later clarified that it was a contribution from the project contractor and the hefty price tag covered both the transportation and cost of buying the 3.5m tree.
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