Several trees had fallen at the SS2 Petaling Jaya Community Neighborhood Park following a storm in May. — Filepic
ONLY four local councils in Selangor have accredited arborists, said state local government and tourism committee chairman Datuk Ng Suee Lim.
“Shah Alam City Council (MBSA), Sepang Municipal Council (MPSepang) and Selayang Municipal Council (MPS) each have an accredited arborist while Subang Jaya City Council (MBSJ) has two.
“This is a total of five accredited arborists in Selangor.
“The remaining eight out of 12 local authorities do not have any,” he said during the state legislative assembly sitting in Shah Alam.
Ng added that Universiti Putra Malaysia had four arborists and Politeknik Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah had one.
Ng was replying to Lim Yi Wei (PH-Kampung Tunku) who asked the number of accredited arborists Selangor had as well as the government’s plan to increase their numbers and ensure the sustainable maintenance of trees.
“To address this, the state will recommend sending local council staff such as landscape architects and agricultural officers from respective landscape departments to attend arborist certification courses.
“However, the number of participants and funds allocated for these courses will be determined by respective local councils,” Ng said.
He was responding to a supplementary question by Lim on the number of targeted participants and funds allocation for the arborist certification courses.
Ng also said he would look into the suggestion by Dr Gunarajah R. George (PH-Sentosa) to seek advice from the National Landscape Department to set up a state-level Landscape Department.
There had been several cases of trees falling or branches snapping during storms in May, causing destruction to property.
On May 27, StarMetro reported that fallen trees had affected several areas under MBSJ’s jurisdiction such as Jalan BK1/10 Pangsapuri Melur, Jalan BK9/5J, Jalan SP1/1, Jalan BK 8D, Jalan Wawasan 2/20 and Jalan Kinrara 6, BK6.
It was also reported on May 29 that three cars were damaged after a tree fell on them at Sri Kemboja Apartment in Bukit Sentosa, Hulu Selangor.
These cases had sparked calls by Selangor folk for better maintenance of greenery in urban areas.
