Trees uprooting in a storm is common, as seen here in SS2 in Petaling Jaya. — Filepic
THE recent incident of two Chinese tourists being killed in Penang when a large tree fell on the car they were in, is shocking.
In May, a man was killed when a tree fell on his car in Jalan Sultan Ismail, Kuala Lumpur.
Trees planted for aesthetic and environmental reasons by local authorities nationwide are now becoming a source of danger to unsuspecting people.
Numerous letters have been published in the media about potentially dangerous trees and what needs to be done.
The government, through the local authorities and other relevant departments such as the National Landscape Department, spends millions of ringgit for tree pruning programmes nationwide.
There are a large number of trees, posing danger, growing in cities in the Klang Valley.
Many trees have low branches hovering over roads and are hazardous to container lorries, buses and other heavy vehicles.
Local authorities turn a blind eye to all of these, including trees blocking signboards.
In some places, tree roots break walls and drains, and the shedding of leaves creates a major problem.
A lot of urban trees are too big with heavy trunks and branches, some tilting, some with weak roots and they can easily crash or be uprooted during strong winds or storms.
Damage to property due to uprooted trees can cause a lot of money.
As such, the problem associated with urban trees is in need of serious attention.
Presently, with climate change things are expected to get worse.
One need not be a qualified arborist to know about the danger trees pose.
A lot of old trees in towns and cities, some planted before Merdeka by the British, need to be felled and if possible replaced with proper trees which do not endanger the public.
The growth of trees in urban areas may be affected by the building of drains, concrete surfaces and roads.
These trees need to be checked on to prevent them from toppling during strong winds or storms.
The only way to reduce tree-falling incidents is for proper pruning to enable them to withstand strong winds.
A paradigm shift in the planting and upkeep of trees, especially in urban areas, is needed.
Trees require proper care and maintenance according to schedule.
One sees a lot of emaciated trees with yellow leaves in Malaysian cities.
In Singapore, I noticed that trees have dark green, healthy leaves due to good upkeep.
A proper selection of trees for urban areas is necessary, and large and tall species such as Rain Tree, African Tulip, Indian Almond or Angsana should not be chosen.
Tree pruning is much easier and safer nowadays due to cranes and skylifts but oftentimes, there is hardly any local authority staff monitoring pruning works being carried out by contractors.
Pruning of trees must be done throughout the year.
Trees should be monitored closely for potential signs of danger.
Such trees need to be pruned, if not cut down.
Many residents object to tree felling or heavy pruning because of the shade and greenery they provide.
Trees may look alright in good weather but it is only during a bad storm that they start swaying and pose a risk to people and property.
Local authorities should carry out their duty to chop trees or prune them without public interference.
Furthermore, residents in housing areas grow their own mango, jackfruit and coconut trees on road reserves.
Some of these trees can endanger people in the long run.
Local authorities need to be strict about the people planting trees on road reserves.
Action also needs to be taken against private property owners whose trees are leaning outward from their premises, as these pose a risk too.
The local authority has every right to issue a notice to have trees pruned or felled as the case may be.
Now that more tree-falling incidents are happening, it is time for the authorities to take this matter seriously and be strict with contractors hired to prune trees.
Do also check on the health of trees to keep urban areas safe for the public.
V. THOMAS
Sungai Buloh, Selangor
