PUTRAJAYA: The National Landscape Department will take a more proactive role in the management and identification of suitable trees for cities, says Nga Kor Ming.
The Housing and Local Government Minister said the Cabinet had agreed to entrust the department with the task of identifying species of trees which are safe and suitable to be planted in cities.
“We already have existing guidelines (on tree management) but now, we want to make sure that they are also enforced,” he said after officiating the soft launch of the National Landscape Day here on Wednesday (May 15).
Nga said the department had already conducted frequent workshops with local authorities on the management of trees.
He also said that the Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) had identified over 1,300 trees, aged 50 years and above.
"Immediate instructions have been issued to the relevant authorities to trim these trees that have been deemed potentially dangerous to the public.
“Currently, there are only 28 such trees left to trim," he said.